By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Over $10,000 worth of guns and gear were stolen last week in San Antonio from a Steiner Ranch man and his buddy who were taking their annual hunting trip to South Texas.

The two friends who grew up together were on their way to hunt dove and hogs in Cotulla, a small town a couple of hours south of San Antonio. Dove season recently opened and they were meeting a third friend for their annual hunt on his land.

The Steiner resident met up with his friend from Wimberley in Spring Branch where they loaded gear into the double cab, Chevy pickup and continued south.

On their way to South Texas for dove and hog hunting, this local hunter and his buddy had all of their gear stolen including seven guns and ammunition while they stopped for dinner in San Antonio. This photo shows an earlier hunt.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Mark McNeal, Jr. was walking to the sidewalk of Randalls at Quinlan Crossing last week when a rattlesnake bit his ankle sending him to the hospital for several days.

Mark McNeal, Jr. (right) was bitten by a rattlesnake last week at this spot at the Quinlan Crossing Randalls’ parking lot. (R toL) Friends Clay Lancashire and Dylan Locke acted fast in getting him to Lakeway Regional Medical Center.

On Sept. 24, three friends,  all recent graduates of Vandegrift High School, met up to go to Randalls to get something to eat. McNeal, Clay Lancashire and Dylan Locke started walking down the main sidewalk from the parking lot when a snake bit McNeal as he passed by the lantana. He jumped and then fell to the ground.

Instantly, there was blood from the fang marks on McNeal’s ankle.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Tyler Handrick — who has been hospitalized for several weeks since hitting his head during a skateboard accident — is slowly recovering. The family was gearing up to move him to Texas NeuroRehab Center in Austin yesterday.

Tyler, a 2012 Vandegrift High School graduate, was longboarding with a friend on September 14. He wasn’t wearing a helmet when he either caught a rock or the curb and fell hitting his head, said his sister Leah Handrick.

Tyler Handrick with his longboard.

He was rushed to the hospital and put on life support in the ICU at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center. He has been slowly progressing. On Sunday, doctors started weaning him off the ventilator.

“He has been doing awesome! Breathing with very little help all on his own like a champ,” Leah said.

Tyler, shown here at 2012 Vandegrift High School graduation, was longboarding with a friend on September 14 when he fell hitting his head. After being on life support, he is now responding to the nurses and his mother by squeezing their hand in command.
Left to right: Tyler’s sister Leah, Tyler, mother Kathy and father Mike.

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By LIZ BARNARD, Four Points News

River Place Country Club is making a $2 million investment into renovating and expanding its clubhouse and reflecting the growth of the Four Points community.

Raquel Hebben, Membership Director, has been with the club since 2004 and has seen much growth in the last 18 months.

“With Raquel’s history at River Place, and our knowledge of the community and what our members and neighbors are looking for in their club, we realized it was necessary to make some substantial changes to our clubhouse. This is why we are investing $2 million dollars in renovations,” said Steven Held, President and CEO of the Dominion Golf Group and Four Points’ resident for eight years.

“We recognize the unparalleled growth in our area, and understand the importance of growing along with the community,” said Steven Held (left), Four Points resident and president and CEO of the Dominion Golf Group, owner of River Place Country Club.
Raquel Hebben (right), RPCC Membership Director, has seen a lot of local growth in the last 18 months.

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By RICH KEITH, LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Somnio Solutions Inc. — one of the fastest growing companies in the nation — moved headquarters to Four Points several months ago.

The company creates digital sales and marketing tools, such as videos and corporate applications, for Fortune 500 companies.

“Our clients include IBM, HP, Dell, Intel, Fujitsu, Samsung, Cisco, Emerson among other leading brands,” said Harold Valderas, CEO and Steiner Ranch resident for 12 years.

For the second year in a row, Somnio made the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Companies in America list, and its 2013 ranking is 2,170. The Austin Business Journal ranked Somnio as the #10 Fastest Growing private company in central Texas in their revenue category. ABJ also ranks Somnio among top twelve largest advertising agencies.

Valderas worked in sales and marketing with high tech companies for many years at Apple Inc. Then in 2002, he set out to build a digital agency along with Somnio’s other senior executives, Garrett Goeters, Chief Operating Officer, and Scott Killingsworth, Chief Financial Officer. All three are long time Steiner residents.

Somnio Solutions’ top management in their new space at Four Points Centre. From left: Harold Valderas, Chief Executive Officer; Garrett Goeters, Chief Operating Officer; Scott Killingsworth, Chief Financial Officer. All three are longtime Steiner Ranch residents.

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