Adam Metcalf, owner of Hill Country Apothecary, grew up in the pharmacy business. He opened Hill Country Apothecary in River Place after he opened his first pharmacy in Lakeway just over a year ago.

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

As the son of a pharmacist growing up in Port Arthur, Adam Metcalf grew up in the pharmacy business, working alongside his dad in high school and college. After earning his pharmacy degree from the University of Houston, Metcalf followed in his father’s footsteps and opened his own independent pharmacy, Hill Country Apothecary, which recently opened on River Place Boulevard.

Metcalf said he models his business after his father’s example.

“What drove his business was his empathy and his customer service,” Metcalf said. “That’s one thing we really pride ourselves on. I believe in the pharmacy practice, we’ve become out of touch with what we’re there for. The big box store has corrupted that- being able to talk to patients as they should.”

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By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Since the Texas Legislature expanded a law in 2003 to allow parents to exempt their children from vaccination requirements due to philosophical or personal objections, hundreds of Leander ISD parents have done just that and exempted their children from mandated vaccinations.

Now, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that at least 121 people from 17 states have contracted measles in the worst outbreak in recent memory, LISD officials are concerned that unvaccinated children create an avoidable health risk.

“There is a growing concern within the medical community and from the two county health departments that work with LISD,” said Karla Barth, assistant director of risk management and district nurse for Leander ISD. “School districts are charged with following the law and we will continue to monitor the situation and take guidance from our local health departments.”

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 916 Leander ISD students — 2.59 percent of the district’s overall enrollment — were exempted from vaccination requirements for non-medical reasons during the 2013-14 school year.

Immunization exemption rates in local schools

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Austin City Council passed six affordable housing projects last week including the controversial Cardinal Point development slated for Four Points Drive. The proposed Cardinal Point apartments would bring up to 125 affordable housing units to Four Points by as early as summer 2017.

“We’re grateful for the council’s support,” said Walter Moreau, the executive director of Foundation Communities. Two of the six proposed projects the council passed are Foundation Communities’ projects. In addition to the local project, the other one is located off of North Mopac.

“We will continue with the design of the community and the state funding process, which goes through the end of July,” Moreau said. Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Oasis Texas Brewing Co. is being sued by New Belgium Brewing because both claim to have the right to the name Slow Ride.

“New Belgium is basically making two points: they’ve done an exhaustive search for the name, and that we wouldn’t settle amicably,” said Max Schleder, president of Oasis Texas Brewing at the Oasis Texas complex in Four Points.

Schleder said that it is “completely false” that they wouldn’t amicably settle.

“We’re big fans and we still like them to this day,” he added.

Oasis Texas Brewing started producing their pale ale under the name Slow Ride early last year. On April 29, 2014 the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission gave the local brewery approval for the name Slow Ride. By May, Slow Ride was on the market.

Fort Collins, Colo.-based New Belgium also has a Slow Ride. It is a session IPA.

But because Oasis Brewing didn’t register the name Slow Ride with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office until Nov. 5 — several months after New Belgium filed for the trademark — New Belgium is legally seeking to clarify where either brewery can use the name Slow Ride, according to reports. Continue reading →