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

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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.

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By SARAH DOOLITTLE

The biggest challenges of Thanksgiving —​  besides trying to locate it amid retailers’ premature Christmas displays —​ is the time spent with family.

Some of these are people you may only be seeing for the first or only time in years. Some are a part of your daily life. All are going to get on your nerves at one moment or another on Thanksgiving day, and the points of contention will always be the same: who cooks the meal, who eats what, sports, alcohol consumption, past transgressions, etc.

Many of these can be avoided, however. As one of five kids myself, I’ve had ample opportunity to learn family negotiation skills. These are skills you can use on all your trips —​ even the ones into your own kitchen.

Know your job

Every family has that one person who wants to do everything —​ their job, your job, and every little job that arises in between. True confession time: I tend to be that person. Whether through good intentions or know-it-all-ness, this is the opposite of helpful. Once everyone has agreed on a plan, stick to it and don’t step on toes. Or offer to do everything yourself and let everyone else put their feet up for the day.

Be helpful

The opposite of that is that one family member who never lifts a finger to help, even when there is obvious work to be done. Don’t be that guy. Work when everyone else is working. Not sure how to be helpful? Ask. See someone stressing out? Offer to help. Sometimes just offering is enough.

Ask for help
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