Motivational speaker Mike Donahue spoke at area schools on the topic “Talking to Brick Walls – Really Understanding Today’s Youth Culture”. Photo taken at Canyon Ridge MS by Cheryl Kleffner. 

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The Vandegrift High School PTA hosted motivational speaker Mike Donahue on Oct 28 who covered the topic “Talking to Brick Walls – Really Understanding Today’s Youth Culture”.

The presentation was also presented at Canyon Ridge and Four Points middle schools during the same week.

Donahue is a youth minister of 18 years and professional public speaker uniquely suited to addressing the challenges kids and teens face today. With his own personal history as a troubled teen —​ and as a father of four —​ Donahue spoke as much to the students in attendance as to parents.

His message? That kids today are under enormous pressures, unfamiliar to their parents, having to do with the constant presence of their peers through technology.

Phones = pressure

“That five minutes it takes to get from math to English —​ they’re being judged,” Donahue told parents. “They’re constantly being judged. And they’re not being judged on their real life, like what kind of person they are, their character. They’re being judged on a slice of their life,” like an event at school or their peer relationships. Continue reading →

Zach Becker, a 2014 Vandegrift HS graduate, is now a United States Marine Corps Private.

By VAL OLIVAS, Four Points News

Zach Becker, a 2014 Vandegrift High School graduate, finished his 13-week United States Marine Corps boot camp last month with a graduation on Oct. 10. The Steiner Ranch resident returned home for a few days before heading back to San Diego for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to complete his second stage of training in the School of Infantry.

“I like to be challenged,” said Becker. “I chose the Marines because they hold themselves to a higher standard. Everything they do, they try to do ten times better than other [military] branches. When you join, you join for the chance to be a Marine and earn the title.”

Becker notes it’s not necessarily the tangible benefits of the military that he found attractive. “I already feel like a better person. It’s a chance to hold myself to a higher standard.”

Britteny Clifford’s 2nd grade class at Steiner Ranch Elementary sent letters and pictures to Becker during boot camp and offered their support. Private Becker went to thank them when he was in town last month.

Britteny Clifford’s 2nd grade class at Steiner Ranch Elementary sent letters and pictures to Zach Becker ​to offer support while he was at U.S. Marine Corps Boot Camp. Private Becker went to thank them​ last month​.

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

A District 6 Candidate Runoff Forum featuring candidates Don Zimmerman and Jimmy Flannigan will take place next week in Four Points and the public is welcome to attend and ask questions.

“This is a chance to show that Four Points is an important part of their district. This is a chance where Four Points has direct input. We need to make sure they hear our voice for our neighborhood,” said Brian Thompto, Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association chairman.

The Four Points Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the forum on Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the great hall at Austin Baptist Church, 7016 Ribelin Ranch Dr. off of RM 2222. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The runoff election day is December 16.

Questions for the candidates can be emailed ahead of time at CandidateQuestions@FourPointsChamber.com

Also those who attend the forum can submit questions to the panel to be answered by the two candidates. There will be a forum moderator.

“Ask questions, raise issues that are of importance to our community, and hear views of the candidates,” Thompto said. “We need community input that our questions do get asked.”

Continue reading →

Viper band and Vision Dance Co. at Bands of America Super Regionals in San Antonio last weekend. Photo by Rich Keith

By RICH KEITH, Four Points News

The Vandegrift High School marching band and Vision Dance Company took 10th place in the Bands of America Super Regional finals contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday.

“The Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional is known for being the hardest marching competition in the country,” said Mike Howard, VHS director of bands.

Notably, Leander ISD became the first school district to send four band programs to a single BOA finals performance.

“Out of 65 bands, it is amazing that half of the 14 finalist bands are from the Austin area. Above that, four of the bands are from Leander ISD,” Howard said. “This was an historic night for Central Texas bands and Leander ISD.”

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

David Estrada

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes unit continues to investigate the double stabbing which occurred Friday morning at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. David Estrada, 23, was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Estrada, who has a prior police record, is accused of stabbing two people at the restaurant located at 5424 Steiner Ranch Blvd. just before 1 a.m. on October 31.

The arrest affidavit states Estrada “pulled a knife out during the fight, proceeded to stab the other two subjects.”

The victims, Christopher De la Rosa, 25, and James Shelton, 24, were taken to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center.

Shelton sustained a total of five stab wounds while De la Rosa had two stab wounds, the affidavit said.

On Friday morning, one was in surgery and the other was in stable condition. Both are expected to fully recover, said Lisa Block, spokesperson with TCSO.

Estrada was also injured and was taken to Lakeway Regional Medical Center. “The wounds were not extremely serious,” Block said. He had a self-inflicted cut on his hand, she said.

The arrest affidavit states Estrada was with a group of about 20 friends having dinner around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. “After dinner, a few friends reconvened at the bar area of the restaurant to have some more drinks before leaving. While at the bar, witnesses stated that they heard a verbal confrontation begin between Shelton and Estrada. (It) progressed into a physical confrontation. Shelton and Estrada were on the floor of the bar area of the restaurant fighting when witnesses say they observed Estrada take a knife out of his front pocket and begin stabbing Shelton in the abdomen and arms while on top of him,” the affidavit said.

De la Rosa apparently tried to break up the fight and Estrada then stabbed him in the chest and abdomen.

Witnesses described the knife as silver in color with a three-inch blade. The affidavit goes on to state: “Witnesses observed Estrada attempting to clean the blood off his knife and folding it back up before deputies arrived.”

Patrons and staff at the steakhouse ran to the victims to “try and stop the bleeding and render first aid,” the report states.

Estrada was arrested and booked at 4:45 a.m. on Friday into Travis County Jail.

The affidavit states Estrada has prior arrests for Assault/Causes Bodily Injury/Family Member and Violation Bond/Protective Order.