Author Archives: Lynette

VHS band competes in Super Regional, Historic finals appearance for LISD

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

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.”BOA_finals_5

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Suspect arrested after stabbing two at Steiner Steakhouse, Investigation continues

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

David Estrada

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.

 

VHS dealing with drug-resistant Staph infections, Assumed to be affecting varsity football team starters

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

vandegrift logo_cutout_bw homelogoVandegrift High School recently contacted parents to inform them of the presence of community-associated Methicillan-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) on campus. Several student athletes have been affected and are being treated for skin infections.

Parents responded with concern. As a result, the district has provided detailed information to families about MRSA and the steps Leander ISD is taking to clean facilities and prevent the further spread of infection.

Staph infections are a somewhat frequent occurrence from middle school to professional locker rooms, but the infections — caused by the very common staphylococcus bacteria — are highly contagious and require treatment and aggressive prevention to curtail a widespread outbreak.

Varsity Viper football players have have been affected but the school did not release a list of those suspected of having the infection.

The presence of CA-MRSA on the VHS campus is not new or unique, according to Veronica Sopher, LISD spokesperson. Continue reading

Wyzykowski sentenced to 18 years for killing Howards while driving drunk, Other charges pending

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Nicholas Wyzykowski

Nicholas Wyzykowski

Nicholas Wyzykowski has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after he admitted that he was drunk on Dec. 27, 2013 when he caused the crash that killed Steiner Ranch Elementary kindergarten teacher Peggy Howard and her son Cale, a Vandegrift High School senior.

Wyzykowski, 22, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of intoxication manslaughter and five counts of intoxication assault.

The accident on RM 620 N. in Four Points also sent five others to hospitals with injuries including broken backs, broken ribs, a broken neck, a broken femur and a punctured lung.

The former University of Alabama student was initially charged with 19 felonies following the incident. Other felonies in this case are pending and Wyzykowski’s next court date is Nov. 21, said Linda Estrada, Travis County court clerk.

According to court documents, Wyzykowski must serve half of his punishment before he is eligible for parole review. Once he is released, he will be placed on probation for 10 years. Continue reading

VHS earns gold medal from U.S. News and World Report

downloadBy CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Vandegrift High School was one of only four Central Texas high schools to receive a gold medal as one of the Best High Schools in Texas based on the 2014 U.S. News and World Report.

VHS was ranked the 41st best high school in the state and 347th best in the nation. Rankings are determined by a number of factors including reading and geometry proficiency, overall student performance, disadvantaged student performance, college readiness and Advanced Placement student performance.

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