Category Archives: Volente

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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Vandegrift shuts out Cedar Park for second straight win in series

The Vandegrift Vipers take the field for a high school football game between Vandegrift and Cedar Park at Monroe Stadium in Austin, Texas on August 30, 2019.

By ZACH SMITH, Hill Country News 

The Vandegrift Vipers are the Austin American-Statesman’s football team of the week this week after VHS shut out the Timberwolves 17-0 in the first game of the season at Monroe Stadium on Aug. 30.

Drew Sanders has been on the sidelines for every step of the rivalry between Vandegrift and Cedar Park. He remembers getting beat by quite a bit, time and time again.

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3M officials reflect on Four Points and look to the company’s future

By LESLEE BASSMAN

Four Points News

Three decades after opening in Four Points, the 3M Austin Center officially closed a few weeks ago, with the last of the 3M employees moving to new facilities this summer. Not only were thousands of patents generated by 3M while it was in Four Points but the company drew the best and the brightest to the local area, impacting it greatly. 

The once-thriving complex that opened in 1988 was sold to World Class Capital Group in June 2017, with its employees relocating to the company’s new Parmer Lane facility. The former site housed offices as well as research and development laboratories.

“In 1988, there wasn’t anything out there,” said 3M Senior Intellectual Property attorney Gregg Rosenblatt, who is a Steiner Ranch resident. “And now Austin’s grown out there. We’re now trying to identify with the other high tech companies that are in this area.”

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