Kevin and Lauren Foltermann in a recent family photo with Archer, 3, who had his last leukemia treatment in June, and their latest addition, Nate, who was born in May.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

Archer Foltermann looks like a normal, lively three-year-old. According to his dad, Kevin, “He 03wants to go outside and play as soon as he wakes up and he enjoys his cartoons and toys… He is 100 percent boy, runs circles around us (and) is absolutely the happiest kid we know.”

Just over two years ago, however, on June 14, 2015, Archer was diagnosed with a childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), that due to his age was considered to be highly aggressive, with a survival rate of just 30-40 percent.

As his mom Lauren describes, there were few symptoms to alert her and Kevin to the seriousness of Archer’s disease. She’d been planning the 10-months-old’s birthday party when, “We thought Archer looked pale and then he started bruising on his legs. He was still playing and acting normally, but I decided to make an appointment for blood work.”

Before that appointment, Archer developed a fever and his parents took him to an urgent care clinic after hours. Doctors decided that, since they had a lab on-site, they would go ahead and perform the blood work. Tests revealed a highly elevated white count as well as depleted platelets (which allow blood to clot) and hemoglobin (which carry oxygen in the blood).

Doctors informed the family of Archer’s test results and had them transported immediately via ambulance to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. His white count indicated leukemia, so the oncologist on-call was expecting them when they arrived.

Once there, “They immediately began to work on him. He was screaming and we had to hold him down so they could start IVs and get more blood to confirm his diagnosis,” said Kevin. Blood tests confirmed the ALL diagnosis and thus began the family’s two year saga.

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The chart uses U.S. Census Bureau data and shows median income and median age as well as percentage of households with children.

Census data shows 5-year estimates

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

The 78732 zip code, which includes Steiner Ranch, continues to have the highest median household income in Austin, according to updated U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2011 – 2015 American Community Survey five-year estimates.

From 2011-2015, the median income of households in 78732 was $132,980. An estimated 42 percent of households had income of $150,000 or more.

William Mellor, vice president of Angelou Economics, said while his firm has not done an analysis on individual zip codes in the city, there has been a trend of significant growth in west Austin.

“That area of the city has been growing significantly over the last couple of years,” Mellor said. “In terms of trends, we notice a lot of CEOs living in that area of town, so it’s not surprising to see the incomes growing so much.”

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Laura Welch Bush Elementary student Cameron Redwine is performing at Zilker Theater Production’s “Wizard of Oz”.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Cameron Redwine, a Laura Welch Bush Elementary rising 5th grader, is performing in this year’s Zilker Theater Production of “Wizard of Oz” during the six-week run through Aug. 12.

“My favorite part of being in the production is meeting all the new people, learning all the songs and dances,” said Redwine, 11, who has performed in many local shows with his training at TexARTS. “I have always loved wizard of oz and was so excited to be cast in it.”

Redwine is a member of the Zilker youth ensemble as a Munchkin, flying monkey and an Ozzian this summer. The cast started practicing Memorial Day weekend and practiced five to seven nights a week for about six weeks before opening on July 7.

“(We) are confident that the rainbows, twisters, and yellow brick road will thrill and amaze 45,000 Hillside audience members of all ages,” said Kate Hix, executive director of Zilker Theater.

“Wizard of Oz” is the 59th  Zilker summer musical and one of the most ambitious shows ever mounted on the Zilker Hillside. The musical is based on the book by L. Frank Baum published in 1900.

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This photo was taken by Megan Rondini’s close friend at University Park Mall in Dallas a week or two before died. A junior at Southern Methodist University, Megan had transferred colleges after her claims of rape — by an influential, Alabama 34-year-old man — were unresolved.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Mike and Cindy Rondini filed a lawsuit on behalf of their daughter Megan’s estate against the University of Alabama, the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s department and T.J. Bunn Jr. for sexual assault damages and improperly handling their daughter’s case.

The lawsuit states: “This is an action for damages that arises from the sexual assault of Megan Rondini by Terry Jackson Bunn, Jr. and from the subsequent faulty practices and mishandling of investigation and treatment by the defendants, ultimately leading to the suicidal death of Megan Elizabeth Rondini.”

Megan grew up in Steiner Ranch and graduated from Vandegrift. In July 2015, Megan, then 20, was entering her junior year as a pre-med honors student at UA. She was majoring in biology with a 3.812 cumulative GPA. She killed herself in February 2016 without closure to her long, drawn-out rape case involving an influential Tuscaloosa, Ala. man.

The lawsuit was filed July 2 and as of this week, there have been no responses yet but Mike Rondini said the defendants have until the first part of September to respond. “All of the defendants issued press releases. Nothing surprising,” he said.

The Rondinis added co-counsel to help with the Title IX side of the suit and are amending their complaint this week.

“The more we uncover, the worse it gets,” Rondini said.

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