Graffiti was painted on a wall at Canyon Ridge Middle School in Steiner Ranch and reported to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday around 4:30 p.m. (Image has been blurred.)

Rash of graffiti, vandalism, trespass, mischief cases reported

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

Officials at Canyon Ridge Middle School reported vandalism at the school on March 25 to the Travis County Sheriff’s Department. This is the second incidence of graffiti at the school in five months, in late October, 2016, graphic graffiti was painted on an exterior wall.

The sheriff’s department confirmed that they are investigating.

“The case has been assigned to a detective… This is a problem that has happened several times at the school, and the school has installed video cameras to help with the problem.” said Kristen Dark, TCSO spokesperson.

There has been a recent spate of graffiti in areas surrounding Four Points. “This is very uncommon for our jurisdiction,” explained Dark.

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The Vandegrift band, Vision Dance Company, Legacies dance team and choir performed together in a patriotic tribute on March 10 in Hawaii for Pearl Harbor’s 75th anniversary.

There were more than 400 Viper students, parent chaperones and teachers on the trip to Hawaii. The Viper groups — under the direction of  Mike Howard, Holly Lyons and Michael Feris — included: 256 from band and Vision, 58 from choir and 63 Legacy students. This was the biggest trip Vandegrift students have taken.

Their combined performance surrounding the USS Missouri lasted 45 minute and included the national anthem, “America the Beautiful”, “American Pride”, “Naval Hymn” and “Deep in the Heart of Texas”.

The three groups were also presented with a flag from Pearl Harbor to bring back to VHS.

The Vandegrift groups were in Hawaii through March 14 seeing the historical sights, snorkeling, enjoying the beaches, hula dancing, surfing, paddle boarding, and more.

The West Austin Chamber of Commerce has enlarged its footprint to stretch along Texas State Highway Loop 1 (MoPac Expressway) and near a portion of Highway 45.

By LYNETTE HAALAND

Four Points News

The West Austin Chamber of Commerce is nearly doubling its footprint while eyeing membership growth with its new leadership team Sean Ziari, chairman, and Morgan Briscoe, president.

“I am passionate about supporting the future of this area, both short and long term,” said Ziari, who took over as chairman in January succeeding Ray Freer.

“It’s a great environment to be a part of,” said Briscoe, the organization’s first president who began her role in January. “Like the people living in the communities we serve, our member businesses truly want to help one another succeed.”

Currently, the West Austin Chamber has just over 130 members and has a goal of 200 members by the end of 2017. It would like to grow by another 100 or so members by the end of 2019.

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On March 15, a double homicide happened at 2014 Whitebead Trail across Lake Austin from Steiner Ranch.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

The suspect in last week’s double homicide near Four Points shot and killed himself Friday after a police chase in Mississippi, according to law enforcement authorities.

Randall Lee Burrows, 54 of Lakeway, was suspected of killing Richard Dale Guthrie and Susan Gulla-O’Leary on March 15 at 2014 Whitebead Trail in the community called Apache Shores across Lake Austin from Steiner Ranch.

At 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, TCSO deputies responded to a report of shots fired. They arrived at the scene and found the bodies of Guthrie and Gulla-O’Leary, both 60-years-old and from Austin. Both had gunshot wounds.

Another woman was shot and hospitalized in critical condition.

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