Justin Moore is part of the Stanford University baseball team.

By CARSON FIELD, Four Points News

Over the past few years, Vandegrift has established itself as a stepping stone for NCAA careers, and that did not change this year.

Vandegrift’s Alex Stadthaus and Justin Moore are two of the most successful athletes in the class of 2018. In January, Stadthaus committed to University of Southern California for football, and in late March, Moore chose to play baseball at Stanford University.

While Stadthaus ultimately chose to be a Trojan, he had multiple other prestigious offers — from Cal, UCLA and Rice.

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The Viper fashion design students worked together to create 55 dresses for girls overseas.

By MADISON PHARIS,
LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Students from Vandegrift have gathered their skills and pillowcases to create dresses, all of them to be donated to students with special needs in Nicaragua. Working together with the Nicaragua Resource Network, a Christian organization, the fashion design students of Deanna Bentley’s class will be delivering around 55 dresses to girls out of the country.

Fashion design was a new course for Vandegrift last year.

“I knew I wanted to implement a service project into the curriculum. What I didn’t know is how committed the students would be to the need that was presented to them,” Bentley said. “This generation of kids is very service driven. Give them a need and they run with it.”

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Travis County shows a dozen alternative emergency evacuation routes being proposed.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Steiner Ranch area has more than 5,000 homes and in case of an emergency evacuation, many residents feel there should be more than two roads in and out of the community.

“I think we need additional routes out. With the terrain and preserve, we’re certainly limited with options,” said Bill Rosenberg, Steiner resident for 12 years.

Since the 2011 wildfires that destroyed 23 homes in Steiner, many in the community say they need a better way to evacuate.

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Gen Orta
April 28, 1972 – Aug. 4, 2018

On July 24, Gen Orta had a cerebral vascular aneurysm. The rupture happened at the hospital and surgery stopped the bleeding. Family and friends were by her side as her body was trying to heal.

They posted on Caring Bridge, “She knows we are here and responds when we talk to her.” They would read her messages and prayers that friends posted and shared from all over the country.

But on Aug. 4, the Steiner Ranch mother of three sons passed away at the age of 46.

Services to honor Orta’s legacy were held at St. Thomas Moore at on Aug.10.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family with expenses.

Obituary

Yesenia Moya Orta, beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, died Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the age of 46, from causes related to a cerebral vascular aneurysm. The longtime Steiner Ranch resident was known for her vivacious, fun-loving personality; her love for country music and its signature sparkling style; and above all, her love for the family and friends she leaves behind; She is survived by her three sons, Erik, 20, Maceo, 18, and Nethaniel Cruz, 14; father Juan Moya, twin brother Rene Moya, sister Lorena Moya Orozco, Brothers-in-Law Matthew Wilson and Lisandro Orozco and nieces Roma and Lucia Orozco. Her mother, Rosa Moya, is deceased.

Born April 28, 1972 in Loyalton, Calif. to Juan and Rosa Moya of Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico, Gen graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1994. She built a successful career as a Vice-President of Operations at an Insurance firm. But it is her love of family for which she is best remembered. Gen proudly celebrated her sons’ accomplishments, both on and off the field; she was always in the stands at their sporting events, cheering on Erik and Maceo at football games, and Cruz at baseball games. Her pride in their achievements was evident in every part of her life, from front-lawn signs supporting the boys’ teams to celebratory t-shirts—paired with a dazzling belt buckle—to blue ribbons hung in a place of honor on the family bulletin board.

She was cheerleader at heart, rooting for her loved ones to find joy in what they loved most, to celebrate when you win and to take comfort in one another when, as is inevitable, you sometimes lose. Her legacy is one of generosity of heart and spirit; she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Gen Orta years ago with her three sons Erik, Maceo, and Nethaniel Cruz, who are now 20, 18 and 14.