🌱 Cedar Park Girls' Swim Team Wins State Title + Space Rocket Funding

Welcome back, Cedar Park-Leander! Elaine Thompson here in your inbox today to get you up to speed on everything you need to know that's going on in town, including a list of outdoor parks to enjoy and news on...

• Cedar Park girls' swim team takes home state title.
• Space rocket startup raises millions in first round of fundraising.
• Austin man laid to rest in Leander's Bagdad Cemetery.

But first, today's weather:

Areas of morning fog. High: 79 Low: 62.

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Here are the top stories today in Cedar Park-Leander:

1. Cedar Park's girls' swim team won the state title on Saturday. Michaela Koltz earned two gold and one bronze medal while "Koltz, senior Abigail Boyle, Chole Wilkins and sophomore Ella Mongenel won the 200-yard medley relay." Head coach Les Greenwood praised the team for its consistent hard work and the sacrifices swimmers make, showing up for each other at practice and beyond. Visit Hill Country News (free subscription needed) for all of the competition stats.
2. A space rocket startup based in Cedar Park, Firefly Aerospace, raised a whopping $30 million in an overall $300 million series C funding round. This company is no stranger to high fundraising valuations, with its last round coming in at $1 billion valuation from fundraising through investors. This current funding round is expected to be higher than the previous billion, though the number remains undisclosed. Biz Journals (free subscription needed) has the full scoop.
3. An Austin man found in Lady Bird Lake was laid to rest at Leander's Bagdad Cemetery. Thirty-year-old Jason John's body was found in the Austin lake where others have died after falling into it. John's mother is working with lawmakers and leaders in Austin to improve lighting and surveillance in the hope that others won't suffer the same fate as her son. For more details, visit KEYE TV CBS Austin.

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Today in Cedar Park-Leander:

• "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Shine On (All-day)
• Certified Fiber Optics Technician Bootcamp at BDI DataLynk Austin (8 a.m.)

Parks to Enjoy:

• Brushy Creek Lake Park
• Cluck Creek Park
• Twin Lakes Park
• Ranch Trails Park
• Cedar Bark Park
• Robin Bledsoe Park
• Lakewood Park

From my notebook:

• Be a foster parent to a fur-friend from Austin Bulldog Rescue: "🙏🏻FOSTERS NEEDED!🙏🏻 Our intake waitlist is stacked up, and two of our own dogs still have no place to go. 😪 Take a look at these kiddos and let us know if you can help! Email to be considered." (Austin Bulldog Rescue Facebook)
• Congratulations to some real heros! "Please help us congratulate Engineer Gilley and Engineer Reeves on their promotions today." (Cedar Park Professional Fire Fighters Association Facebook)
• All the more reason to visit the Cedar Park Library! "Congratulations Cedar Park Public Library! They are now, for the eighth time, in the top 15% of all public libraries in the State after earning the 2022 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award." (Cedar Park, Texas government Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (February 21)
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• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (February 22)
• RAD Talent & Singing SOULdiers at The Lucky Rabbit - 2/25 (February 25)
• Add your event

That's it for today! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Elaine Thompson

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Cedar Park-Leander Patch newsletter? Contact me at CedarParkLeander@Patch.com