Sonny Centrale takes a swing during a home run derby hosted by the VHS baseball boosters at Venom Field in Austin, Texas, on February 11, 2017.

A group of current and former progressional baseball players addresses attendees at a home run derby hosted by the VHS baseball boosters at Venom Field in Austin, Texas, on February 11, 2017. From left, Dominic Ramos, formerly of the Round Rock Express and Sugarland Skeeters; Chad Qualls of the Colorado Rockies; three-time World Series champion John Lackey of the Chicago Cubs; and Kelly Wunsch, a veteran of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

By SCOTT W. COLEMAN
Four Points News

Football may have risen to prominence across much of America in recent years, but many will still argue that baseball is ‘America’s Game’ and has been all along.

Attracting young people of all ages and more than just a few interested adults, a group of current and former Major League Baseball players took time to share their experiences and answer questions on Feb. 11 at Vandegrift’s Venom Field, as a part of a fundraising Home Run Derby hosted by the VHS baseball boosters.

“With all the talent we have in our community, this was a chance for them to give back to the community,” said organizer Amy Mader. “They all live here. It’s amazing how much talent we have in this area. And their kids feed into the Vandegrift schools, so it’s really their own back yard.”

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Funds help boost local education

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

More than 375 guests attended the 7th annual Viper Nation Gala on Saturday night and raised more than $140,000 (before deducting expenses) for the Viper Nation Education Foundation, which supports the eight public schools in Four Points.

“The Viper Nation Education Foundation wishes to thank all sponsors, donors and guests for making the 2017 gala a fantastic evening,” said Courtney Johnson, VNEF executive director.

Dan Troxell, Leander ISD superintendent, spoke at the March 4 event at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Austin. He has toured high school and college campuses that have upgraded their libraries to scholar lab expectations so that students can study with the use of technology. After voicing his support for VNEF’s initiative to create a Scholar Lab at Vandegrift, guests responded with a record-breaking $44,200 for the VNEF Gala fund-a-need.

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Funding was approved last week by the Travis County Commissioners for the construction of a proposed route from Flat Top Ranch Road to Fritz Hughes Park Road. The $2.7 million project could take this path lined out or something similar. Construction could start in early 2019 and the project would include raising the low water crossing on Fritz Hughes Park Road to reduce the frequency of overtopping during storms and flooding events.
Source: Travis County – Transportation and Natural Resources.

Dec. 2019 expected completion

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Funding for the Steiner Ranch emergency evacuation route was unanimously approved by the Travis County Commissioners last week.

“Yes, funds ($2.7 million) for the Steiner Ranch evacuation route were approved,” said David Greear, Transportation and Natural Resources engineering division manager.

This project will provide additional options for surrounding residents responding to emergencies in the area. One anticipated use for the connection would be to provide an emergency evacuation route for Steiner residents in case the front of Steiner Ranch is cut off from RM 620. Another anticipated function would be to help spread the traffic load of a large scale evacuation event by adding an additional access point onto RM 620.

“We have to repeat… this access if for emergency events only, and will be closed and/or gated at all other times,” Greear said. “Furthermore, this will also allow the residents in Montview Acres an evacuation option over to Steiner Ranch in case the low water crossing on Fritz Hughes Park Drive is ever blocked, damaged, or washed out.”

Funds for this project include improving the existing low water crossing by raising and widening the bridge so that it does not overtop as frequently, Greear added.

“We have not determined exactly how we will connect Flat Top Ranch Road over to Montview at this time,” Greear said. The map that has been published is conceptual at this point.

Greear said this Steiner evacuation route project is one of Travis County’s highest priorities and they did not want to wait on the 2017 bond referendum. Travis County commissioners voted to use Certificates of Obligation as a new funding mechanism for priority safety projects.

There will be opportunity to voice concerns and give input on this project in the coming months, he added.

Concerned Travis County residents Deb Groom and Patrick Lublin spoke at the County Commissioners meeting last week. Both live in small neighborhoods adjacent to Steiner where the proposed road would connect.

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Construction of Cardinal Points, off of Four Points Drive near River Place Boulevard, is underway and will have 120 units. Construction workers were busy at the site on Monday.

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

With Leander ISD adding approximately 1,000 new students per year, making it one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state, school board trustees may have to start taking a closer look at the impact subsidized apartment developments could have on existing schools.

Two new subsidized developments are planned to be completed in the next two years within Leander ISD. In Four Points, Cardinal Point is currently under construction and will have 120 units. The Tuckaway Apartments is another 250-unit development expected to open this year in Cedar Park. There are six subsidized developments already located throughout the district.

“When one comes in, others tend to follow because it sets a precedent,” LISD Superintendent Dan Troxell said during an October meeting of the school board.

Troxell said some school districts in the state have made the decision to oppose subsidized developments because they tend to have higher percentages of students per unit, which can force school districts to have to pass bonds to build additional schools. He said that Katy ISD is one such district that now opposes all subsidized housing after having to build two new elementary schools to accommodate two subsidized developments a number of years ago.

Dr. Stacey Tepera, data manager for Population and Survey Analytics, the firm which compiles annual demographic data for LISD, said it’s not uncommon for school districts to have to build additional schools to accommodate new subsidized developments.

“Many districts are concerned when these complexes are built because it puts a strain on one specific school,” Tepera said.

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