Cooper Dossey, a Vandegrift HS junior who hopes to play professional golf one day, was selected to represent the U.S. at the Duke of York tournament in September. Friday he left for the Polo Invitational in Florida.

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Vandegrift High School junior Cooper Dossey had the opportunity to travel to Aberdeen, Scotland, in September to represent the United States in the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy golf tournament.

Dossey was selected to represent the U.S. after winning the American Junior Golf Association tournament in April. He and another female golfer from Ohio were selected to play in the Duke of York tournament, and competed among national champions from approximately 30 countries. Dossey said he was surprised to learn he had been selected to compete in the international tournament.

“Honestly, I was kind of shocked,” he said. “I struggled last summer so it’s been a huge blessing to have the opportunity. I wasn’t expecting it.”

Dossey rose in the Polo Golf Rankings to the No. 17 spot after a 2014 campaign which included two top 10s and his first career AJGA title at the Goodman Networks Junior at Traditions. He helped the West retain the Cup at the 25th anniversary Wyndham Cup and was recognized as one of golf’s rising stars on the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Team.

Cooper Dossey, a Vandegrift HS junior who has verbally committed to play at Texas A&M, represented the U.S. recently at an international golf tournament in Scotland. Most of that time was spent playing golf, but Dossey (right) did have the opportunity to meet the Prince Andrew, Duke of York (left).

He traveled to Scotland for seven days in mid-September and while most of that time was spent playing golf, he did have the opportunity to meet the Duke of York.

“He was pretty cool,” Dossey said. “He was a little cocky but I guess he has the right to be. He was very nice, very open; he talked a lot.”

Dossey ended up placing 21st in a field of 55 players. Continue reading →

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The arrest of Kathy Legrand on October 16 for suspicion of driving a Leander ISD school bus while intoxicated after Legrand ran over a mailbox shocked many in Four Points. There have been other bus accidents so far this year as well, but LISD wants to reassure parents that district buses continue to be safe for students.

Including the Legrand arrest, school buses in Four Points have had, “four accidents and four incidents involving buses since the beginning of the school year,” according to numbers released in response to a Public Information Request filed by the Four Points News.

In addition to the Legrand accident and subsequent DWI charge, another accident involved a driver hitting a pizza delivery vehicle in Steiner Ranch, and another a bus rear-ending a student’s vehicle near Vandegrift High School.

“Incidents” include events that do not require a police report to be filed. Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

A phone scam is going around where the caller claims to have a bench warrant from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and asks for hundreds of dollars in fines for failure to appear. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirms this is fraudulent and warns people not to send money.

“Do not send money,” said Lisa Block, spokesperson with the TCSO.

A Steiner Ranch resident was called on Nov. 14 by someone with a strong Texas accent who identified himself as Lt. Gary Phillips of the Travis County Sheriff’s Department. Ultimately he asked for her to buy a prepaid card amounting to nearly $1,000 for fines.

“I kept talking and taking notes even after it was pretty obvious it was a scam, but finally hung up after he persisted in wanting a cell phone number,” said the local resident who did not want to be identified because the caller has her name, number and address.

She hopes to get the word out so others do not fall victim to this scam. Continue reading →

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

A Concordia University Texas student-led group called CTX Alive has adopted a peer-to-peer program to educate students on the risks of impaired driving called U in the Driver Seat.

About 2,600 students account for the local total enrollment of Concordia and about 1,800 college-age students die annually from drinking and driving, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Starkly, the death toll represents 69 percent of the school’s total population.

The numbers have captured the attention of CTX Alive, the health and safety organization on the local Four Points campus.

Using the U in the Driver Seat peer-based platform, student leaders take a personal approach to promote what they consider practical tactics in avoidance of statistical risk.

Concordia University Texas senior and CTX Alive president, Leslie Leal, and Xzavier Beacham, also a senior and CTX Alive vice president, sit among red flags symbolizing the 1,800 college-age students that die annually as a result of drinking and driving. They are drawing awareness about solutions.
Photo by Kim Estes

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Steiner Ranch HOA received reports of two cases in the last several days where domestic dogs were killed by wildlife. One of these, Four Points News reported on November 19, was the Mullen family pet of a decade which was killed in their backyard before sunrise near the Westridge Park.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is aware of the situation of wildlife and is conducting an active investigation in Steiner Ranch of these cases.

Wildlife in Four Points that could prey on domestic animals include coyotes —​ which have been spotted in abundance in Steiner —​  and more recently was a reported of a large feline, possibly a bobcat or mountain lion.

Last week, the Steiner Ranch HOA emailed to homeowners information from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department to help educate the community on mountain lions and urban coyotes.

The Steiner HOA message pointed out that the area is surrounded by preserve and open space land where many different species of wildlife live. Many of these animals make their way into the neighborhood and are searching for prey, such as rabbits, squirrels and in some cases pets.

Mountain lions are also known as cougars, pumas and panthers.

Local sightings

Adam Kristoff, of Steiner Ranch, saw panther and cougar sightings in River Place the year he opened Cool Creek Family Dental in 2011, and at least once a year since.

“In fact, my office overlooks Panther Hollow which is the canyon in the preserve between River Place and Steiner Ranch. The cats have always been there but I think it is interesting we are seeing activity from them in the mists of all of the latest development in the area,” Kristoff said.

Continue reading →