By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Four Points Chamber of Commerce is hitting a milestone and celebrates its fifth anniversary. What started as a volunteer-run organization in 2010 with some 20 members now has three  part-time staffers and 130 members.

“Over the past five years, we’ve provided an invaluable amount of education to our members, community and businesses. We’ve covered topics from training to traffic, from social media to safety and socializing. We’ve provided businesses with dozens of ideas, hundreds of contacts, and thousands of leads,” said Ray Freer, FPCC chairman, founder of RF Insurance Masters and Steiner Ranch resident.

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By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The Four Points area including Steiner Ranch, River Place and Grandview Hills — which fall into three zip codes of 78732, 78730 and 78726 respectively — has experienced growth in size and ethnic diversity over the past 15 years. Other demographic information points to a younger population that is, in general, well above the state average in terms of household income.

As of 2013, the City of Austin pegs the total population for the three zip codes of 78732, 78730 and 78726 that fall into the Four Points footprint at 37,194.

The 78726 zip code includes Canyon Creek and extends to Anderson Mill Road. 78730 includes Emma Long Metropolitan Park and extends to Hwy. 360. 78732 includes the Comanche Trail area.

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By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Place 6 City Council member Don Zimmerman says he is developing a roadway concept that would provide an evacuation route for Vandegrift High School and Four Points Middle School, reduce the wildfire threat in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and also help alleviate traffic congestion in Four Points.

Don Zimmerman
Place 6 City Council member

“We do have a conceptual plan to connect RM 2222 and US 183 via McNeil and Spicewood Springs,” Zimmerman said. “A primary purpose is fire safety and emergency evacuation – hence our nickname of ‘Fire Break Parkway.’”

Zimmerman said he has discussed the proposal with multiple groups including the Austin Fire Department and officials with Leander ISD and Travis County, with the hope of it becoming a joint project. He said decades of unmanaged growth and vegetation accumulation in the BCP poses a serious wildfire threat.

“It is a tinder box which, if started, would destroy all the wildlife in addition to destroying property and possibly costing human lives,” he said.

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Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion has named Cathie Robinson the new principal for Steiner Ranch Elementary.

Cathie Robinson

“I am pleased to announce Cathie Robinson as the new principal for Steiner Ranch Elementary,” said Champion. “With her wealth of knowledge and her passion for learning, Ms. Robinson will build upon the culture of collaboration and excellence that has been established at Steiner Ranch Elementary.”

Ms. Robinson joins LISD from Spring Branch ISD where she has served in various leadership positions, including campus principal, Director of Accountability, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning and most recently as the Executive Director of To & Through Post-Secondary.

Ms. Robinson earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

One man is dead after a head-on crash involved three vehicles on Monday night just before 9 p.m. on RM 2222 near McNeil Drive, according to the Austin Police Department.

When Austin-Travis County EMS arrived, a man in his 30s was unconscious and later pronounced dead at the scene in the 9200 block of RM 2222 on March 23, said Rick Rutledge, EMS captain.

Three others involved in the crash were transported to local hospitals including a female in her 50s. One of the crash victims was transported with serious injuries to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center and two others had minor injuries and were transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge.

In the span of 10 hours, RM 2222 was the scene of multiple accidents this week — one fatality on Monday night and two others Tuesday morning causing lane closures and significant delays.
Photo by Alicia Donoghue

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