Clay Bales, forester with Texas A&M Forest Service, identified some 30 trees in Steiner Ranch that have oak wilt. “The rate of spread of the disease through the roots is approximately 75 feet per year,” Bales said.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Oak wilt was recently confirmed in Steiner Ranch and managing the disease is difficult. Oak wilt spreads quickly, especially through tree roots, ultimately killing most trees that are susceptible.

“The rate of spread of the disease through the roots is approximately 75 feet per year,” said Clay Bales, Texas A&M Forest Service forester.

Once oak wilt infects an oak tree, the disease can spread through the roots to other oak trees. Out of all of the oak varieties, red oaks and live oaks are most susceptible to the disease.

Roots form a network underground which accelerates the rapid spread.

“Large live oaks can root-graft to other large live oaks up to 200 feet away,” Bales said.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The University Interscholastic League announced the six winners of the 2015-16 UIL Lone Star Cup on Friday and Vandegrift won its second consecutive UIL Lone Star Cup in conference 5A.

“Winning the 5A UIL Lone Star cup for the 2nd year in a row is a historic accomplishment for a high school that only opened in 2009,” said Charlie Little, principal of VHS. “I am extremely proud of all of the academic, fine arts and athletic coaches and their students for all of the hard work they put in to achieve this goal.”

The UIL Lone Star Cup is an award that recognizes the best overall athletic, fine arts and academic programs in Texas.

Vandegrift won the cup with 115 points with state championships in boys swimming and boys golf. The Vipers also earned points with state runner-up finishes in marching band, girls golf and team tennis and its academics team finishing fifth overall at state. VHS also tallied points in boys and girls soccer, volleyball, football and boys basketball.

This year VHS reached 21 points higher than its score last year of 94.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Oak wilt, an infectious disease, has been confirmed in the Plateau neighborhood in Steiner Ranch and is also confirmed along Selma Hughes Park Road off of Quinlan Park Road.

“I looked at about 10 home lots and oak wilt is affecting 30 trees,” said Clay Bales, forester from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Bales said there is very little oak wilt in Steiner now but that “it won’t stay that way. Constant education is needed to protect the beauty in Steiner Ranch.”

Bales said he got a call from a homeowner in Steiner about three months ago who thought they might have oak wilt. Bales investigated and it turned out to be the case.

If not treated and addressed, oak wilt will continue to grow and spread. One reason this is such a big issue is that mature, live oaks are all connected, Bales said.

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Jennifer Moran captured the event on video and posted it to Instagram reporting she was sailing when she heard the prop of the biplane die, “and suddenly they hit the water, flipped and began sinking.”

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the biplane crash into Lake Travis on Saturday when three passengers got out safely.

The crash happened near Windy Point-Bob Wentz Park on Saturday afternoon.

Jennifer Moran captured the event on video and posted it to Instagram reporting she was sailing when she heard the prop of the biplane die, “and suddenly they hit the water, flipped and began sinking.”

The plane flipped near the shore, and it reportedly took about a minute to sink completely below the waterline.
Moran posted that everyone began boating, jet-skiing, sailing, kayaking and swimming towards the plane.

“But all three men got out before the plane sank. It was a man taking his dad on a birthday plane ride excursion over Lake Travis. The dad told me he’s been fighting cancer and the son told me he and his wife just had a new baby three weeks ago,” Moran posted. “Put life into perspective for both of them.”

After they were safe, the men were grateful for all of those who tried to help, she said.

One passenger sustained minor injuries, but was not taken to the hospital, EMS officials said.
Travis County Parks Department and Travis County Sheriff both responded to the scene.