Category Archives: Steiner Ranch

Local program offers technology training, life skills, community to adults with autism: nonPareil Institute opens at River Place

nonPareil CEO Gary Moore (far left, holding ribbon) and Kim Tagge, director of operations at Austin’s nonPareil facility (far right, holding ribbon) celebrate the opening of a Four Points location with a ribbon cutting ceremony last week on Aug. 27. LESLEE BASSMAN

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News 

Four Points resident Dale Thompson’s voice lifts with excitement as he talks about his son, Brent, who graduated from Vandegrift a few years ago. A four-year wrestler, Thompson said Brent attracted a lot of community interest during his high school years.

“He’s on the (autism) spectrum and yet Coach Cooper let him come on the team with zero experience,” Thompson said of Brent who was promoted to the varsity squad his junior and senior years. “Brent proved he was up to the challenge.”

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Concordia students move in to Four Points campus

Concordia University Texas students moved into the dorms at the Four Points campus to start the new school year. Unofficial enrollment numbers show 2,439 total students including undergrad, grad, and doctoral students. There are two residence halls on the campus at 11400 Concordia University Dr. and those are 95 percent filled, housing a total of 286 students this fall. Official numbers are reported at the point of census, which will happen next week. 

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Neighbor accused of killing LISD teacher won’t be indicted

Adam Ladner, who taught at River Ridge Elementary from 2009 – 2015, was killed by his neighbor during an altercation on Jan. 26.

By JOSH MONIZ, Hill Country News 

The Cedar Park man accused of shooting and killing a Leander ISD science teacher and girls soccer coach will not be indicted after receiving a no-bill decision by a grand jury. 

Larry Wayne Smith, 64, was accused of killing his neighbor, 41-year old Running Brushy Middle School teacher Adam Ladner, during a Jan. 26, 2019, altercation over a noise complaint, according to the affidavit filed by Cedar Park Police.

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‘76 Sunday Break II concert brought legendary acts to Steiner Ranch

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Steiner Ranch was home to the music festival Sunday Break II on September 5, 1976, and featured such acts as The Band, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton and the Steve Miller Band.

This event 43 years ago helped shape Austin’s music scene into what it is today — the “Live Music Capital of the World”.  

It was the second musical festival to be hosted in Austin in a four-month period. On May 2, 1976, music promoter Mayday Productions held their first ever concert, Sunday Break I, which was at the time the largest music festival Austin had ever seen. It was located on a site near Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 290. The event was a huge success for the organizers, according to reports, netting them over $120,000.

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