O’connor extension now open for traffic

Williamson County officials recently announced the extension of O’Connor Drive, from RM 620 south to South Great Oaks Drive, and a new section of South Great Oaks Drive, opened on Wednesday.

The section of O’Connor Drive from South Great Oaks Drive to Texas 45 is not yet complete. Officials said it will remain closed until completion of the Texas 45/O’Connor Drive interchange.

The interchange project is currently under construction by the Texas Department of Transportation. However, TxDOT’s contractor, Ballenger, has filed for bankruptcy. TxDOT is working with a bonding company to select a new contractor.

The interchange will provide access to and from McNeil Road, Texas 45 and MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1). It will include a non-tolled frontageroad system in addition to tolled access to Texas 45 and MoPac.

About 200 Leander students will receive extra assistance over the holidays from the Leander school district’s weekend backpack program.

The program provides backpacks filled with food items to students eligible for the district’s free-and-reduced-lunch program on Fridays so that the students have complete meals over the weekend.

The district’s Educational Excellence Foundation has partnered with RandolphBrooks Federal Credit Union and H-E-B to provide extra food to students in the program so that they receive complete meals over the two-weak school break. In addition to the extra food items, the back packs will also contain a children’s book and a $10 H-E-B gift card so the student’s families can purchase fresh produce and meat.

The Cedar Park Farmers’ Market will host a craft event in honor of those who were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Saturday.

The public is invited to come make remembrance ornaments from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakeline Mall, 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive.