oakhillgazette.com
July 24, 2014 Volume 19, No. 15 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
APD Commander points to Oak Hill crime trouble spots by Joanne Foote
Phase two is where Oak Hill comes into play. The trail section will start at 290 in Sunset Valley; go through the Williamson Creek Greenbelt along Loop 1 and all the way to Dick Nichols Park.
Violet Crown Trail headed for Oak Hill by Bobbie Jean Sawyer OAK HILL - The City of Austin Urban Trails Program is seeking public feedback on a portion of the Violet Crown Trail stretching from Sunset Valley to William Cannon. An open house on the multipurpose urban trail will be held July 30 from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Hampton Branch Library. Nadia Barrera, the Urban Trails program manager, said there are currently four options for the Oak Hill section of the trail, two of which require passing through private property and will be dependent on permission from the property owners before they may be presented. “We’re looking at both sides of the creek—Williamson Creek— to get to Brush Country. We’re looking at an alignment that goes along Mopac and we’re looking at another alignment that may or may not start behind private property,” Barrera said. “There may be some—by the time that the open house happens in a week and a half—that might not
VCT Open House Wednesday, July 30 5:30 to 8:30pm. Will Hampton Library
AUSTIN - “Citizen involvement is key to what we do,” said APD Commander Nick Wright. “The work of APD’s District Representatives is the root of all we do, and without that combination, we don’t function.” Despite a threatening rainstorm, it was standing room only at the Quarterly Police Commander’s Forum, which was held on Thursday, July 17, at the Clinton Hunter police sub-station. Wright is the newest commander for Region Four, which includes the Oak Hill area and most of South Austin, including most everything south of Lady Bird Lake. “The police department likes to keep us on our toes, so I am the newest commander at this substation,” joked Wright. “In my personal opinion, this is the most squared away, best area in the city. I’ve been with APD for close to 20 See APD on page 22
Why did the oak tree cross the road? by Bobbie Jean Sawyer be viable due to private property concerns.” Barrera said one option is to build on city parkland. “We’d have to meet all the existing codes and standards but it’s a viable option because we own it,” See VIOLET on back page
OAK HILL - Why did the oak tree cross the road? Because where it was, it stood in the way of TxDOT’s planned renovations at the intersection of Hwy. 290 West and William Cannon. The 130-year-old heritage oak tree, known by locals as the “Taco Bell Tree,” (for the Taco Bell that See OAK TREE on page 12
Officer Johnson (left) and Officer Visi, talk about the upcoming Run With the Heros 5K event in September. Gazette: Joanne Foote