By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Leander ISD is the 14th fastest-growing school district in the state of Texas and the growth isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon. With a current student population of 36,192, the district is only about halfway to its estimated maximum population of between 65,000 to 75,000 students, according to Bret Champion, superintendent of LISD.

“You can’t talk about Leander ISD without talking about growth,” Champion said at his State of the District presentation a few weeks ago at Hill Country Bible Church. “We’re a destination district. People are trying to come to Leander ISD. We celebrate that.”

Champion said between the years of 1999 to 2014, the district grew by 177 percent. Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Newly-elected District 6 City Council Member Don Zimmerman has said he is strongly opposed to Foundation Communities’ proposed Cardinal Point apartment complex, which would break ground next year on Four Points Drive if the project is approved.

“I am the one leading the fight against these projects,” Zimmerman said. “They’re unaffordable and they’re unsustainable. It’s intolerable and it has to stop. I’m strongly opposed and my staff is working to get the word out.”

Don Zimmerman

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

After a year of construction, NRP Group LLC is opening Aria Steiner Ranch, a new apartment complex with 302 units at 4800 Steiner Ranch Blvd.

Located near the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse, there will be a total of 25 buildings onsite including 18 apartment buildings, garages and a clubhouse.

“Construction has gone very well,” said Mark Jensen, NPR Group’s San Antonio-based vice president of development. The project is expected to be complete by the fall.

Pre-leasing has just begun and the first tenants start moving in next month.

“We are rolling out pre-leasing in full force. We’re not in the clubhouse yet, but doing online leasing. We’ll be onsite in mid-February,” Jensen said.

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Hill Country Bible Church recently closed on 32 acres of property located northwest of the Vista Ridge at Steiner Ranch shopping center. For now, however, its Steiner Ranch offices are at 2900 N. Quinlan Park Road in the Shops at Steiner Ranch. Staff members are, left to right, Sandy Rigney, administrative coordinator; Josh Howard, student ministry pastor; Josh Tullis, worship pastor; Don Dumbacher, campus pastor; Matt Jones, tech coordinator; and Rhonda Fionda, children’s ministry director.
Photo by Kim Estes

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Hill Country Bible Church recently closed on the purchase of 32 acres of property northwest of  the Vista Ridge at Steiner Ranch shopping center, off N. Quinlan Park Road.

According to Don Dumbacher, HCBC Steiner Ranch campus pastor, cost of the land was more than $2 million.

Five-and-a-half acres of the tract will accommodate a building and parking areas, with the remainder used for ball fields and other community needs. A construction start date has not been set.

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By SCOTT W. COLEMAN, Four Points News

Last year was a historic season for Vandegrift High School in many respects. But, the girls soccer team’s state title was especially sweet. The road to a repeat state title may challenging, but that hasn’t stopped the Lady Vipers from getting out to a strong start in district play.

Last season, the Lady Vipers seemingly spent all of last season both chasing, and being chased. Many of the team’s critical victories along the way were close, with key goals often coming in dramatic fashion.

 With three losses and a pair of ties, and an oft-repeated battle with district and LISD rival Cedar Park playing out through the regular season and again in the playoffs, when the teams played to a 1-1 tie in regulation. The Lady Vipers just missed a scoring opportunity in overtime, but when neither team scored a winning goal, the game went into a second overtime. With no scoring in the second overtime, it was a kick from midfielder Kyndal Howard who slid the winning penalty kick past Cedar Park’s District 25-4A goalkeeper of the year Alanis Guevara for the win.

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