TxDOT to unveil local road improvement ideas May 28 at SRE

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

With traffic congestion in Four Points continuing to be a major concern, officials with the Texas Department of Transportation will unveil details for a new traffic plan concept for the RM 620 and RM 2222 area at the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association community meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Steiner Ranch Elementary, 4001 Quinlan Park Rd.

The TxDOT concept includes new capacity and intersections to separate traffic flow at RM 620 and RM 2222, and improvements to RM 2222 and River Place Boulevard, said SRNA Chairman Brian Thompto.

Brian Thompto

Brian Thompto

“Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association is very pleased to announce that concept plans are finally ready to provide major improvements for 620 and 2222,” Thompto said.

“These improvements are designed to take the Four Points area into the coming decades with significant reductions in congestion and traffic delays,” he added.

TxDOT will present the plan details at the May 28 meeting along with facts, figures, and simulations of the proposal.

“We intend to show traffic modeling as developed for possible projects and improvements, for sharing and discussion with the local officials,” said Christopher Bishop, TxDOT spokesperson.

“The ideas are being presented for discussion and information only, with no final decisions having been made. We look forward to working with officials and citizens to develop feedback and ideas for future development,” Bishop said. Continue reading

Evacuation plans for VHS, FPMS LISD has plans it doesn’t release,

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Evacuation during a wildfire is something most Four Points families lived through in September 2011, and with the continued drought and threat of wildfire, one local parent wants to know more about the evacuation plans for Vandegrift High School and Four Points Middle School.

Vandegrift High School traffic after school on Monday. There is one road in and out of the campus and some parents are concerned that during an emergency, one road is not enough.

Vandegrift High School traffic after school on Monday. There is one road in and out of the campus and some parents are concerned that during an emergency, one road is not enough.

Leander ISD parent Jannine Farnum said all she wanted was a better understanding of the school’s evacuation policy in case of emergency, prior to her son starting school at Vandegrift. She contacted VHS but said she was given a vague answer.

“I’m not asking for information on a bomb threat, which I can understand why you might keep that info private,” Farnum said.

 

 

“My question is in response to a wildfire. These two schools, FPMS and VHS, are at the end of a dead end road that backs to a canyon preserve that, if it caught on fire, would travel up the canyon to the schools direction. There is only one way in and one way out for those schools and several apartments,” Farnum said.

But, according to officials, a vague answer is all Farnum and other parents will get. LISD spokesperson Veronica Sopher said it is standard practice for school districts to keep their schools’ evacuation plans out of the public eye.

LISD emergency response plans

Veronica Sopher, Leander ISD executive director of school/community relations.

Veronica Sopher, Leander ISD executive director of school/community relations.

“Security experts recommend not putting out your evacuation plan information,” Sopher said. “The state allows you to keep it private. We’re not going to release that kind of stuff. Having said that, we have to assure the community that we do have (evacuation plans). We have different variations and we practice them by law. That’s always the way it is at every school.”

Sopher said that emergency response plans differ depending on the type of emergency, and regardless of the type, LISD always works with and follows the recommendation of emergency management officials.

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Local families open Hilderbrand Jewelers at Trails at 620

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Steiner Ranch residents Van Hilderbrand and Ted Tongson are co-owners of Hilderbrand Jewelers, specializing in high-end, new and pre-owned watches and jewelry.

After decades in the jewelry business, Hilderbrand and Tongson opened their own store a couple weeks ago in the Trails at 620 shopping center.

​L-R: Sales representative Shaun Coates and store owners Van Hilderbrand and Ted Tongson manage the newly-opened Hilderbrand Jewelers, located at the Trails at 620 Shopping Center, 8300 N. R ​M 620, Bldg. D, Ste. 500​. Photo by Cassie McKee

​L-R: Sales representative Shaun Coates and store owners Van Hilderbrand and Ted Tongson manage the newly-opened Hilderbrand Jewelers, located at the Trails at 620 Shopping Center, 8300 N. R ​M 620, Bldg. D, Ste. 500​.
Photo by Cassie McKee

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Local dad fighting leukemia and needs bone marrow transplant, Donor drive May 18 in Steiner

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

After recently going to the doctor for a routine check-up and blood work as required by his life insurance policy, Steiner Ranch resident Chuk Starrett, 44, received news that would turn his world upside down. Though he felt healthy and was in the best shape of his life, his doctor told him he had an aggressive form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Chuk and his wife, Jennifer, could not believe the diagnosis. The doctor told him he needed to begin treatment immediately in Houston.

“I had zero symptoms,” Chuk said. “If it weren’t for the blood test for cholesterol, I never would’ve known. The doctors were like, ‘You feel great right now but that is going to change and it could change by tomorrow morning, so you’ve got to go now.’”

Chuk Starrett (middle), of Steiner Ranch, is battling an aggressive form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He has completed two of eight rounds of chemotherapy. Chuk and Jennifer Starrett with their sons Jack, 12, Dalton, 11, Ryan, 8, and Chuk's mom Pat Evans.

Chuk Starrett (middle), of Steiner Ranch, is battling an aggressive form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He has completed two of eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Chuk and Jennifer Starrett with their sons Jack, 12, Dalton, 11, Ryan, 8, and Chuk’s mom Pat Evans.

Before he could go, the couple had to have a very difficult conversation with their three sons, ages 12, 11 and 8.

“They were in shock,” Jennifer said. “Our oldest son had the toughest time. He’s in middle school and is a very tough kid. He cried and held onto Chuk for about half an hour and wouldn’t let him go. It was just so hard, we had to explain to them what leukemia is.” Continue reading