By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

3M is selling its 156-acre campus in Four Points at 6801 River Place Blvd. at the same time it is looking to relocate to another site in Austin. The move affects hundreds of local employees.

In 1988, employees started to fill the 11 new buildings of the 3M campus in Four Points, which are connected with walkways. Today the campus has 1.2 million-square-feet of space including offices, laboratories and an on-site co-generation utility plant that powers the 3M campus in Four Points.

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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

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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.

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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.

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