oakhillgazette.com
February 7, 2013 Volume 18, No. 3 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
Maroons get thrilling win over Chaps!
Bullets fly in neighborhood by Tony Tucci
OAK HILL - The potential for danger is always present, even in the seemingly peaceful Scenic Brook neighborhood in Oak Hill. That point became clear to Sam Pruett on a recent Sunday morning when he climbed into his 1999 BMW convertible—and found a bullet that had been shot into his car. Pruett had heard gunfire in his neighborhood twice in the previous week, the latest just the day before on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 26). His
neighbor heard the shots, too. “It sounded like pistol fire,” said Pruett, who knows his guns after 20 years in the military. Pruett was ready to put the matter behind him until he and his wife Brigitte got in their car Sunday afternoon to go to the mall. He backed his car out of the drive and when he braked, a bullet rolled off the dash and onto the floor. Then he noticed there was a hole in his convertible top and another in the driver’s seat. “That bullet entered the car at just
about the place I would have been sitting,” Pruett said. He said he then filed a report with Austin Police. Pruett said it’s hard to believe that anyone would fire a gun in a residential neighborhood, and he’s concerned about what could happen. “I am worried that someone just walking or driving down the street might get shot,” he said. Because of his concern, he sent a notice to his neighborhood association, and See BULLETS on page 27
Roadwork may knock out oaks by Bobbie Jean Sawyer
OAK HILL - The installation of continuous flow lanes at the intersection of 290 and William Cannon will probably result in the removal of some oak trees, most notably a prominent oak near the site of the former Taco Bell, which was located at William Cannon and 290. The announcement was made during a Jan. 31 environmental workshop on the Oak Hill Parkway project, hosted by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTR-
MA) and TxDOT. TxDOT public relations officer Kelli Reyna said while the removal of trees is a possibility, TxDOT is working to preserve every possible tree from the area in question, from William Cannon to Williamson Creek. “Here at TxDOT we do recognize the importance of this issue and we’re trying to be proactive. We are working with our local partners to see how to save every possible tree,” Reyna said. “TxDOT trying to be
The so-called “Taco Bell Oak” environmentally sensitive is a huge concern of ours so we want to make sure that we continue to have an area See ROADWORK on page 26
DreamCity opens as LifeAustin by Ann Fowler
OAK HILL - Sunday, January 27 saw the Grand Opening Celebration of LifeAustin, Pastor Randy Phillips’ dream church at 8901 West Highway 71. Formerly known as Promiseland West (and DreamCity), opening day drew a total of 3,500 visitors attending two church services and
Graham Staniforth: grahamsphotos.com
Cole Carper (#32) of Austin High shoots over a Westlake defender in the Maroons’ thrilling win Tuesday night. Details on p. 14.
an evening performance by Phillips Craig and Dean, the contemporary Christian music trio featuring Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig and Dan Dean. Church officials have insisted from the start that traffic would not be a problem— and they were true to
their word. Pastor Phillips told the Gazette: “We were successful in getting TxDOT to put flashing caution lights near our exit. And we are using two Sheriff ’s cars each Sunday and Wednesday nights.” During the grand opening, in See LIFEAUSTIN on page 16