By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

A second animal attack has been blamed for the death of yet another family pet in Steiner Ranch.  It is believed coyotes are responsible.

The two family pet attacks happened a few days apart a few weeks ago.

Lori McCollum, owner of the second slain pet, said, “We let our guard down one time.”

The McCollum’s family dog was a 7-year-old Boston terrier named Laila. She disappeared from the backyard of their Valley of East Ridge home.

“In this neighborhood,” McCollum said, “we all let our dogs out and they run between the houses or play in the yards.”

Laila had been out and when the family looked for her, she was just gone. “We thought someone picked her up,” McCollum said.

A couple days later, however, they found Laila’s remains.

Although the family did not have the cause of death officially confirmed, two coyotes showed-up in the backyard. “I think they were coming back for more,” McCollum said.

She cautions Steiner Ranch residents to be alert to their surroundings. “Don’t think that because you have a fence that your pet is safe. We let our guard down one time,” she repeats. Continue reading →

Cooper Dossey, a Vandegrift HS junior who hopes to play professional golf one day, was selected to represent the U.S. at the Duke of York tournament in September. Friday he left for the Polo Invitational in Florida.

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Vandegrift High School junior Cooper Dossey had the opportunity to travel to Aberdeen, Scotland, in September to represent the United States in the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy golf tournament.

Dossey was selected to represent the U.S. after winning the American Junior Golf Association tournament in April. He and another female golfer from Ohio were selected to play in the Duke of York tournament, and competed among national champions from approximately 30 countries. Dossey said he was surprised to learn he had been selected to compete in the international tournament.

“Honestly, I was kind of shocked,” he said. “I struggled last summer so it’s been a huge blessing to have the opportunity. I wasn’t expecting it.”

Dossey rose in the Polo Golf Rankings to the No. 17 spot after a 2014 campaign which included two top 10s and his first career AJGA title at the Goodman Networks Junior at Traditions. He helped the West retain the Cup at the 25th anniversary Wyndham Cup and was recognized as one of golf’s rising stars on the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Team.

Cooper Dossey, a Vandegrift HS junior who has verbally committed to play at Texas A&M, represented the U.S. recently at an international golf tournament in Scotland. Most of that time was spent playing golf, but Dossey (right) did have the opportunity to meet the Prince Andrew, Duke of York (left).

He traveled to Scotland for seven days in mid-September and while most of that time was spent playing golf, he did have the opportunity to meet the Duke of York.

“He was pretty cool,” Dossey said. “He was a little cocky but I guess he has the right to be. He was very nice, very open; he talked a lot.”

Dossey ended up placing 21st in a field of 55 players. Continue reading →

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The arrest of Kathy Legrand on October 16 for suspicion of driving a Leander ISD school bus while intoxicated after Legrand ran over a mailbox shocked many in Four Points. There have been other bus accidents so far this year as well, but LISD wants to reassure parents that district buses continue to be safe for students.

Including the Legrand arrest, school buses in Four Points have had, “four accidents and four incidents involving buses since the beginning of the school year,” according to numbers released in response to a Public Information Request filed by the Four Points News.

In addition to the Legrand accident and subsequent DWI charge, another accident involved a driver hitting a pizza delivery vehicle in Steiner Ranch, and another a bus rear-ending a student’s vehicle near Vandegrift High School.

“Incidents” include events that do not require a police report to be filed. Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

A phone scam is going around where the caller claims to have a bench warrant from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and asks for hundreds of dollars in fines for failure to appear. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirms this is fraudulent and warns people not to send money.

“Do not send money,” said Lisa Block, spokesperson with the TCSO.

A Steiner Ranch resident was called on Nov. 14 by someone with a strong Texas accent who identified himself as Lt. Gary Phillips of the Travis County Sheriff’s Department. Ultimately he asked for her to buy a prepaid card amounting to nearly $1,000 for fines.

“I kept talking and taking notes even after it was pretty obvious it was a scam, but finally hung up after he persisted in wanting a cell phone number,” said the local resident who did not want to be identified because the caller has her name, number and address.

She hopes to get the word out so others do not fall victim to this scam. Continue reading →

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

A Concordia University Texas student-led group called CTX Alive has adopted a peer-to-peer program to educate students on the risks of impaired driving called U in the Driver Seat.

About 2,600 students account for the local total enrollment of Concordia and about 1,800 college-age students die annually from drinking and driving, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Starkly, the death toll represents 69 percent of the school’s total population.

The numbers have captured the attention of CTX Alive, the health and safety organization on the local Four Points campus.

Using the U in the Driver Seat peer-based platform, student leaders take a personal approach to promote what they consider practical tactics in avoidance of statistical risk.

Concordia University Texas senior and CTX Alive president, Leslie Leal, and Xzavier Beacham, also a senior and CTX Alive vice president, sit among red flags symbolizing the 1,800 college-age students that die annually as a result of drinking and driving. They are drawing awareness about solutions.
Photo by Kim Estes

Continue reading →