By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

During the past year, there have been two reports of possible mountain lion sightings made to the Steiner Ranch Homeowners Association. The sightings were in the greenbelt area of Shire Ridge and at a trailhead off of Flat Top Ranch Road, according to an HOA spokesperson.

Jim Nissen, who lives on Flat Top Ranch in Steiner, said his 15-year-old daughter, Katherine, was walking home at about midnight on July 30 when she was startled by a noise as she walked past the trailhead near Waters Drive and Summer Canyon Drive.

“While she was walking past the trailhead near that intersection, she heard a noise and looked back to see a large cat exiting (a) cottonwood tree in the area,” Nissen said. “She immediately started to run and was terrified. She said as she looked back, the large cat climbed back into the tree. She was absolutely positive this was not a raccoon or coyote. It was a large cat and she identified it as a mountain lion or cougar.”

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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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