January 20 2019 Issue
Category Archives: Steiner Ranch
VHS senior stays positive despite medical conditions
Kiersten Dyke, Vandegrift senior from Steiner Ranch, is training her dog Willow to eventually be a therapy dog that she can bring to hospitals and help children. She has gone through her own set of medical challenges over the past 14 months.
By CODI FARMER, Vandegrift Voice
One day Kiersten Dyke was a healthy 16-year-old, and then suddenly she was experiencing many unexplainable symptoms — blurry vision, ringing in the ears, extreme sensitivity to sound and light, brain fog, leg weakness causing difficulty walking at times, stomach pain, dizziness and fatigue.
“When I was first going through this, I had no idea what was wrong with me for the first several months. I was confused,” said Kiersten, now a Vandegrift senior.
Since her symptoms started in November 2017, she has visited the ER 10 separate times and has been hospitalized seven times.
Rock slides on RM 2222 can’t be predicted, Rain can be a factor in incidents
A rockfall occurred at this site off RM 2222, near the Paradox Cove and Westslope Drive bend, on Jan. 2, resulting in the Texas Department of Transportation closing one lane for a couple of days. Experts say the timing of such rock slides can’t be predicted. LESLEE BASSMAN
By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News
Following a Jan. 2 rock slide off RM 2222, on the sharp bend between Paradox Cove and Westslope Drive in northwest Austin, the Texas Department of Transportation closed the roadway’s westbound right lane to protect motorists from any additional slides, TxDOT Public Information Officer Bradley Wheelis said. The route reopened Jan. 3, after the agency’s crews spent most of the day clearing rocks that had fallen and taking down any loose boulders from the cliff to limit future rock slides, he said.
According to Wheelis, recent rains in the area loosened the soil around the rocks, causing them to fall and staff waited until the day after the rocks fell to remove them due to the continued wet weather.
LISD makes national honor roll
STAFF REPORTS
Leander ISD is one of 373 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the Ninth Annual AP District Honor Roll. In order to receive the recognition, the district had to, since 2016, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.
In a release, the district said, “Reaching these goals shows that LISD is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.”
Utility relocation makes room for 2222 expansion
Since Dec. 3, right of way clearing has been underway along RM 2222 in Four Points. This photo taken at the intersection of River Place Boulevard and RM 2222 on Thursday, Jan. 10 shows the many utility lines that will be moved to make way for widening the busy road. ELLIE SEITZLER
By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
The $23.6 million, RM 2222 widening project is underway in the heart of Four Points as utility moving has begun while clearing the right of way continues.
The project is expected to increase road capacity which will improve mobility and cut down on congestion.
“Utility relocation is underway,” said Bradley Wheelis, TxDOT Public Information Officer. Tree clearing started Dec. 3 to stay ahead of endangered bird nesting, he added.