Joe Ray, center, joins the country music band, Little Big Town, in their new video, “Better Man.” Left to right are Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Joe, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet.

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

Joe Ray, an 11-year-old resident of Steiner Ranch, spent a beautiful October day running through a clothesline in the rural countryside of Manor for a video featuring a newly released song written by Taylor Swift.

To the country music vibe and harmony of the band, Little Big Town, Joe darts between a row of whites, plaid and denim billowing in a breeze as songstress, Karen Fairchild, laments a lost relationship.

Joe is also in a scene with band member, Kimberly Schlapman, who acts as his mother, and he has a vignette in which he tosses a football in the air.

The video, inspired by the song “Better Man,” has been viewed more than 6.8 million times on YouTube as of Monday.

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Square Cow co-founder and Steiner Ranch resident Wade Lombard with his family. From left, Jax, Harley, Wade, wife Kimberly and Lawson Lombard.

Named one of Austin’s fastest growing companies

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

Square Cow Movers, owned by Steiner Ranch resident Wade Lombard, along with his father Wayne Lombard and brother-in-law Derek Mills, has once again been recognized by the Austin Business Journal as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in Austin.

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The Incubator for Innovation and Impact is scheduled to open in spring 2017 at Concordia University Texas. Donald Christian (right) , Concordia president, and Kevin Koym, Tech Ranch CEO, announced their partnership recently.

Staff Reports

Concordia University Texas and Tech Ranch, an Austin startup accelerator, have partnered to build the Incubator for Innovation and Impact, scheduled to open in spring 2017.

Located in Four Points at Concordia at 11400 Concordia University Dr., the Incubator for Innovation and Impact will enrich the community with its accessible ecosystem that amplifies an entrepreneur’s resources, opportunities and impact.

“One of Concordia’s strategic priorities is to partner deeply with our community,” said Donald Christian, Concordia president and CEO. “Partnering with Tech Ranch in this new venture allows our university to take advantage of the strength of Tech Ranch’s brand in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship, and promote Concordia’s mission of developing leaders in new and exciting ways.”

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On Sept. 4, 2011, fire destroyed 23 homes in Steiner Ranch including the home that used to sit on this site. Last week, the Austin City Council approved a payment of up to $6.78 million to settle a lawsuit related to the fires.

Fires destroyed 23 homes in Steiner Ranch, Resulted in one fatality

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Austin City Council approved a payment of up to $6.78 million to settle a lawsuit related to the 2011 Labor Day weekend fires in Steiner Ranch, which destroyed 23 homes and caused the death of Travis County Deputy Constable Kevin Aigner.

Over 19 plaintiffs filed more than 500 separate property damage, personal injury or wrongful death claims against the city, according to City of Austin Litigation Division Chief Meghan Riley.

Homeowners and insurance companies sued the city in November 2012, around the same time fire investigators determined the cause of the fire to be power lines maintained by Austin Energy.

Slack in electric lines led them to touch each other in high winds Sept. 4, 2011, fire officials said. Electricity began arcing, creating molten bits of metal that fell to the ground and ignited dry vegetation, the report concluded.

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