The Vandegrift Viper community kicked off the football season with a game against the storied Odessa Permian Panthers on Friday, Aug. 26 at Monroe Stadium.
The elite Vandegrift programs — band, choir, football, dance, cheer — gave their best performances while students, parents and fans celebrated.

The Vandegrift Vipers take the field for the first time in the 2016 season to host the Permian Panthers at Monroe Stadium in Austin, Texas, on August 26, 2016

The Vandegrift Vipers offense watches the action on the field as storm clouds move in from the north during a high school football game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Permian Panthers at Monroe Stadium in Austin, Texas, on August 26, 2016

The Vandegrift cheer squad watches the game from the sidelines during a high school football game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Permian Panthers at Monroe Stadium in Austin, Texas, on August 26, 2016

The Vandegrift Viper Band prepares to perform during a high school football game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Permian Panthers at Monroe Stadium in Austin, Texas, on August 26, 2016

Continue reading →

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

River Place resident and certified financial planner, Bill Parrott, announces the publication of his first investment book, “Up the Income Ladder: Generate More Income in Retirement”.

“Investment holdings and the income they generate have a direct impact on a person’s retirement years, but few people fully understand how to generate the maximum income from their financial assets,” said Parrott, president and CEO of Parrott Wealth Management at 6500 River Place Blvd. He has been in the investment business for 27 years.

“Up the Income Ladder” teaches how to increase investment income for a financially stable retirement.

“Whether investors are approaching retirement or are already there, ‘Up the Income Ladder’ helps them keep income growing and flowing for years to come,” Parrott said.

Certified financial planner and River Place resident, Bill Parrott, center, has written a book, “Up the Income Ladder: Generate More Income in Retirement”. It is available on Amazon.com. Pictured with Parrott are his wife, Tonya, and their daughter, 18-year-old Hannah.

The book covers three main themes, starting with financial planning and how to determine how much money is needed and how long it should last.

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Leander ISD reported that 971 students earned 1,054 Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the 2016 AP Exams. This is a 27-percent increase from the previous year’s AP Scholar distinctions.

Vandegrift High School stood out among all LISD high schools with a total of 349 scholars honored through the AP Program. Cedar Park High School had a total of 226 scholars, Vista Ridge High School had 191, Leander High School had 104, and Rouse High School had a total of 101 scholars.

“Leander ISD is pleased to see a growing number students who are participating in the rigorous AP Program and doing well on these challenging exams,” said Karie Lynn McSpadden, LISD interim superintendent. “We are especially proud of our AP Scholars and all that they’ve accomplished.”

LISD reported that 3,875 students took 6,866 AP Exams in 2016, up from the 3,579 students who took 6,109 exams in 2015. The 12-percent increase in the number of exams and 8-percent increase in the number of individual students testing outpaced the district’s 5.5-percent growth in student enrollment.

Continue reading →

Zimmerman abstains from vote,
Bond includes $30 million in district 6 improvements

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

In a split vote, the Austin City Council voted to place a $720 million mobility bond package – the largest in the city’s history – on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Three council members abstained from the final vote, including Place 6 council member Don Zimmerman. Zimmerman said he abstained for two reasons. The first being that he thought the bond package should’ve been broken up into three different pieces that could be voted on individually.

“The number one comment I’ve received from constituents is, ‘Why are you making us vote on this huge amount of money? Why isn’t there some way you could break it into smaller pieces to give us choices,’” Zimmerman said at the Aug. 18 city council meeting.

Additionally, Zimmerman was upset by the removal of ballot language that would specify the amount of tax increase voters would see. While that language was initially approved by the council at a prior meeting, it was taken out at the recommendation of city legal staff.

Continue reading →

Vandegrift Assistant Principal Tiffany Phelps with her husband Courtney, who died last week unexpectedly at the age of 37.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Vandgrift Assistant Principal Tiffany Phelps and her children, Bryson, 5, and Brooklyn, 23 months, are grieving the death of their husband and father, Courtney, after his unexpected death last week at the age of 37.

Courtney, who was visiting family in San Antonio on Aug. 23, complained he wasn’t feeling well and decided to take a nap. He died in his sleep.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Courtney’s heart was almost twice the size of an average man, which ultimately led to its failure, his obituary stated from Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.

“It’s quite ironic that the very heart that touched so many people would ultimately take his life,” his obituary went on to state. “Anyone who knew Courtney would describe him as being incredibly kind, generous and loving. Courtney was a great man, large in stature and with an enormous heart, both literally and figuratively.”

Continue reading →