Category Archives: Volente

Concordia and ACC partner for lower cost degree

Lynette Gillis, Concordia University Texas associate vice president of academics, shares how the new Concordia and ACC partnership offers a lower cost degree.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

A new partnership between Concordia University Texas and Austin Community College provides students a path to a bachelor’s degree at more than 31 percent lower than a state college price, announced Concordia and ACC officials.

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Judge rules city violated Open Meetings Act

Affects development on Champion tract  

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Last week, a district judge ruled that the city of Austin violated the Open Meetings Act in the suit filed by the Lake Austin Collective Inc. against the city on June 5.  

“Judge Scott Jenkins ruled (on Nov. 21) that the city of Austin violated the Open Meetings Act by not disclosing on its agenda (Nov. 10, 2016, agenda item 6) that council was granting environmental waivers to the developers of the Champion Tract,” said Bill Aleshire, attorney representing the Lake Austin Collective, a nonprofit group of residents who are affected by the proposed development on the tract owned by the Champion sisters on City Park Road near RM 2222.  

“This is a victory for (Lake Austin Collective) and for government transparency,” Aleshire said.

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Baseball does good with “Ham it up”

Vandegrift baseball players, under the direction of head coach Allen McGee, who helped deliver 76 hams/meals to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin: Joey Hatch, Timothy Wolter, Clayton Noles, Robert Brackenridge, Connor Logeman, Kyle Maysonave, Josh Upp, Andres Arana, Chad Herrera, Garrett Moore and Ethan Gross.

Baseball does good with “Ham it up”

By LAURIE MOORE, VHS Baseball

This fall the Vandegrift baseball team held a combined fundraiser/charity event with the Honey Baked Ham Co. called “Ham It Up”.

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Third generation pecan grower brings retail shop to 620

Mark Hall is a third generation pecan farmer, continuing the family tradition in Austin.

By MADISON PHARIS, Four Points News

Mark Hall may not have had the best welcome when he and his family moved to Steiner Ranch in September of 2011 but his dedication to the family business of growing pecans and his vision to open the 38 Pecans shop kept him thriving despite the wildfires of Labor Day weekend.

The third-generation pecan grower and his wife, Brooke, and three children, Cree, Kiersten, and Britlyn, made Steiner their home. But despite being evacuated from their home right after moving in, and hearing of more than 20 homes lost to the fires, the shaky start didn’t deter Hall in the slightest.

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