By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Boat House Grill — one of Four Points’ oldest eateries — is closing on Sunday  after 19 years of serving the local community.

“It’s been a long time coming. It’s heart-wrenching and freeing,” said owner Tracy Collins, who started the restaurant in Feb. 8, 1999 and built it from scratch at 6812 RM 620, at the heart of Four Points near RM 2222.

She turned the tiny burger and fish joint into offering much more with a staff of 15 employees, most who are full-time.

Continue reading →

Four Points’ own Phil Wilson will lead the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce as Chairman of the Board this year. He plans to focus on regional mobility and a more conducive regulatory environment in 2018.

“The chance to serve our members and the larger Central Texas business community is a task I’m excited and eager to take on,” said Wilson, Lower Colorado River Authority general manager and former Texas Secretary of State.

Continue reading →

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News

The Texas House District 47 race is heating up as the primaries are getting closer and seven candidates are vying for incumbent Rep. Paul Workman’s seat.

As of the filing deadline on Dec. 11, Candace Aylor, Elaina Fowler, Vikki Goodwin, Will Simpson, and Sheri Soltes are running in the Democratic primary election, while Workman, Patty Vredevelt, and Jay Wiley are running in the Republican primary election.

The primary elections are on March 6 and a runoff election will be May 22 if needed. The general election is Nov. 6. Members of the Texas House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.

Continue reading →

Circle C resident Gary Rice prepares to hike the River Place Nature Trail Jan. 4. Photo by Leslee Bassman

River Place Nature Trail Some voice concerns of additional traffic  

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News

Although no time frame has been established for the city of Austin to dismantle the River Place water treatment plant owned by the subdivision’s former municipal utility district, area leaders are considering turning the tract into a parking lot that could host about 100 vehicles. The lot would be accessible to the neighborhood’s renowned hiking and running trail.

“I had preliminary conversations with some of the (Austin) staff members if they would be amenable to us being able to take over that location after they decommission the facility,” said Patrick Reilly, president of the River Place Limited District, the group that assumed management of the neighborhood’s parks, trails and solid waste collection after River Place was fully annexed by the city of Austin Dec. 15. “If we did, my idea…was to be able to utilize that space for potential parking.”

Continue reading →