By VAL OLIVAS, Four Points News

Native Icelanders Thor Gudbrandsson, his wife Margret Ericsdottir and their three sons moved to the states permanently four years ago and have called Steiner Ranch home for a year.

Margret and Thor’s youngest son, Keli Thorsteinsson, was born with autism, and was initially misdiagnosed as mentally retarded due to the lack of information about autism in Iceland.

At ten years of age, Keli, who had been non-verbal since he was born, began communicating with others by pointing to a letterboard to form his words. His first words to his parents were, “I am real.”

(L to R) Erik, Unnar and Keli Thorsteinsson with their parents Thor Gudbrandsson and Margret Ericsdottir.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Over $10,000 worth of guns and gear were stolen last week in San Antonio from a Steiner Ranch man and his buddy who were taking their annual hunting trip to South Texas.

The two friends who grew up together were on their way to hunt dove and hogs in Cotulla, a small town a couple of hours south of San Antonio. Dove season recently opened and they were meeting a third friend for their annual hunt on his land.

The Steiner resident met up with his friend from Wimberley in Spring Branch where they loaded gear into the double cab, Chevy pickup and continued south.

On their way to South Texas for dove and hog hunting, this local hunter and his buddy had all of their gear stolen including seven guns and ammunition while they stopped for dinner in San Antonio. This photo shows an earlier hunt.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Mark McNeal, Jr. was walking to the sidewalk of Randalls at Quinlan Crossing last week when a rattlesnake bit his ankle sending him to the hospital for several days.

Mark McNeal, Jr. (right) was bitten by a rattlesnake last week at this spot at the Quinlan Crossing Randalls’ parking lot. (R toL) Friends Clay Lancashire and Dylan Locke acted fast in getting him to Lakeway Regional Medical Center.

On Sept. 24, three friends,  all recent graduates of Vandegrift High School, met up to go to Randalls to get something to eat. McNeal, Clay Lancashire and Dylan Locke started walking down the main sidewalk from the parking lot when a snake bit McNeal as he passed by the lantana. He jumped and then fell to the ground.

Instantly, there was blood from the fang marks on McNeal’s ankle.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Tyler Handrick — who has been hospitalized for several weeks since hitting his head during a skateboard accident — is slowly recovering. The family was gearing up to move him to Texas NeuroRehab Center in Austin yesterday.

Tyler, a 2012 Vandegrift High School graduate, was longboarding with a friend on September 14. He wasn’t wearing a helmet when he either caught a rock or the curb and fell hitting his head, said his sister Leah Handrick.

Tyler Handrick with his longboard.

He was rushed to the hospital and put on life support in the ICU at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center. He has been slowly progressing. On Sunday, doctors started weaning him off the ventilator.

“He has been doing awesome! Breathing with very little help all on his own like a champ,” Leah said.

Tyler, shown here at 2012 Vandegrift High School graduation, was longboarding with a friend on September 14 when he fell hitting his head. After being on life support, he is now responding to the nurses and his mother by squeezing their hand in command.
Left to right: Tyler’s sister Leah, Tyler, mother Kathy and father Mike.

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