Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the largest predators of all time, roamed what is now Texas around the same At left, Leon Long, time that the volcano now professor emeritus of called Pilot Knob was geology at the University active, about 80 million of Texas at Austin, holds years ago. T-rex lived a sample of volcanic rock during the Cretaceous found at the Pilot Knob period between 66 million site. The extinct volcano and 145 million years ago. is the hill behind him. It’s iStock photo illustration also visible from Newton Collins Elementary School in southeastern Travis County. Above is a the close-up of the volcanic rock, which Long, who retired in 2015, collected many years ago. explosive Sarah Beal photos origins of Today it’s just a hump, In the shadow of the extinct volcano, Pilot Knob: Then and now but 80 million years ago, less than a century ago, another amazing it was a massive volcano era began: a rich legacy of black gospel that shaped our surroundings music born in Pilot Knob. Page 20B

By Patrick Beach tellingly named Lava Hill Road, don’t know its history. Pilot ot far from Austin-Bergstrom Knob was spewing lava during the Cretaceous period, which International Airport and began about 145 million years ago and ended 66 million years 80 MILLION YEARS AGO ago (right after the Jurassic period). In the late to middle part McKinney Falls State Park, a of the period, Texas — like much of western North America all PILOT mound rises on the landscape, the way north to the Arctic — was covered by a shallow sea. maybe 150 feet above the flatter land The water was warm and the climate tropical here. Dinosaurs N such as the 50-foot-long, 30-ton Alamosaurus (named after the surrounding it in southeastern Travis Ojo Alamo formation in New Mexico) could have waded from Dallas to Austin and farther south, if they were so inclined. Pilot County. It is called Pilot Knob, and it Knob was one of dozens of igneous hot spots along a roughly TODAY doesn’t look like much. S-shaped line from modern-day Waco to Austin, San Anto- nio and points west. There is another dead volcanic spot five But about 80 million years ago — the day before yesterday When it was active, the Pilot Knob volcano towered thousands of in geologic time — this hump was a very big and active vol- miles to the east near the community of Elroy, and a scattering nearby, but Pilot Knob is the largest and most exposed of what feet tall. Today, it tops out at 150 feet above the surface. Dips that cano. It is believed to be Texas’ only example of an exposed formed around the base of the volcano are called 'moats.' From volcano that was formed underwater. remains. illustration courtesy of Leon Long Lots of people who live and work in the area, even along the Continued on next page 18KNOB Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE June 2020 bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop June 2020 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ­Texas Co-op Power 19 Continued from previous page Leon Long knows a good deal about Pi- lot Knob. The University of Texas at Aus- It’s been so long since Pilot Knob ex- tin professor emeritus of geology describes ploded that it’s not just dormant, it’s ex- the humble hill as a “geologic wonder.” tinct. But back in its day, some experts For more than 50 years, Long explained speculate the formation rose several thou- the eras of the Earth to almost 33,000 stu- sand feet high. Erosion has taken a toll, dents. He retired in 2015. making it difficult to guess its original A recent visit near Pilot Knob flipped height. It now stands 711 feet above sea Long’s professor switch back on: “Long level and is little more than a mile in di- ago, the world was vastly different,” he ameter. said. “How did the Pilot Knob volcano Millions of years ago, seawater ran into get there? What happened to it subse- its lip and mixed with magma — molten quently? To understand some simple ge- rock the consistency of toothpaste. Explo- ology helps us to understand ourselves sions blasted into the sky. When the de- and, importantly, how we humans relate Pilot Knob bris landed on the ground, it was still hot to everything else in our environment. volcano but already solid. This igneous rock with “All of the volcanic and sedimentary fine volcanic ash built up the formation. (deposits) associated with the Pilot Knob It also helped form rich, fertile soil. At the volcano took place . . . between 145 and time, earthquakes probably accompanied 66 million years ago.” the relatively frequent and violent explo- What’s left of the peak of Pilot Knob sions, which eventually formed a crater isn’t accessible to the public, but it is near The Cretaceous Sea, also known as the Cretaceous that could have been more than 1,000 feet the tiny community of the same name, Interior Seaway or the Western Interior Seaway, was a narrow, shallow body of water that stretched from deep. not far from the intersection of U.S. 183 today’s Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean and at one Finally, the volcano quieted over time, and Dee Gabriel Collins Road. time covered the entire state of Texas. This image and erosion wore its mighty peak down to Pilot Knob (the volcano, not the small Leon Long examines the crystal structure of a volcanic rock sample he had previously shows the sea as it appeared about 80 million years collected from the Pilot Knob area. Sarah Beal photo a humble, unremarkable bump. Continued on next page ago. Joe Stafford illustration Getting there Continued from previous page 20th century, but those apparently came up Pilot Knob is easily seen from the dry. Stories of buried gold and diamonds in road. Travel south of Austin-Berg- community) in a sense marked a dividing line the rough around Pilot Knob persisted for strom International Airport on between the more ancient part of the western decades, but no one ever turned up with any U.S. 183. Past Onion Creek, the hill Life on Earth: From dinosaurs to humans continent and the more recently formed land evidence. is visible on the right, near a large to the east. Prehistoric streams flowed south In 1919, a UT professor declared that Pilot white liquid storage tank. You can and east, depositing deltas into what is to- Knob’s dome was made up of tough “neph- see it if you turn west onto Dee Mesazoic Era Cenozoic Era day’s Gulf of Mexico, forming what we might elite basalt” (trap rock) that was the best ma- Gabriel Collins Road off U.S. 183 broadly call East Texas at the expense of the terial for road building ever found in Texas. Cretaceous Quatemary or from McKinney Falls Parkway Triassic Jurassic Paleogene Neogene gulf. The snaking boundary of ancient volca- By the next year, San Antonio businessman Period Period near its intersection with Dee Period Period Period Period nic activity very roughly parallels the Balcones Arvid Franke held a 50-year lease to mine Pi- Gabriel Collins Road. The knob is Fault, although that didn’t develop until tens lot Knob, according to the March 13, 1920, also visible from Newton Col- of millions of years after the volcanoes. The edition of Rock Products, a trade publication. lins Elementary School at 7609 fault essentially marks the separation between “Mr. Franke is planning the construction of a Many types Apogee Blvd. Admire it from a today’s Hill Country to the west and the flat- crushing plant to prepare the material for the of mammals distance, though. The land around First dinosaurs ter lowlands to the east. market,” it reported. “There is every reason Pilot Knob is privately owned. Many types By the time humans stopped hunting and to believe that on account of the quality of of dinosaurs Mammoths gathering and took up agriculture, it was clear the trap rock found in the deposit near Aus- First mammals First Humans the land on the east side of the Balcones Fault tin that demand will be large for it and the First birds flowering was better suited for growing crops. The soft construction of more permanent highways in the spur line that would be needed to haul the plants volcanic material around and east of Pilot Texas will increase.” rock out. Wooly rhinos Knob made for rich soil while Hill Country Another 1920 trade bulletin estimated the Today, you can see rock-solid signs of the Conifers farmers cursed and busted rocks. trap rock deposit atop Pilot Knob was 5 mil- once-active volcano. Along Onion Creek in Large There are tales of an exploratory oil well lion to 50 million tons. However, the Interna- McKinney Falls State Park, the rippled rem- flightless or two near the knob sometime in the early tional & Great Northern Railway never built nants of beach rock deposits and a shallow sea birds that formed when volcanic activity waned are Ocean-living reptiles Creatures visible. Visit the state park and look for the inhabiting the greenish-gray, crumbly volcanic ash beds be- Millions of years ago Cretaceous Sea low the limestone overhangs of the upper and 252 201 145 66 23 2.6 0 included giant lower falls. ancient mollusks If you’ve ever cooled off there on a hot sum- and squid-like The fossilized bones of a duck- The Cretaceous period is creatures called mer day, you have a volcano to thank for it. billed dinosaur named Aquilarhinus when many of the most well- belemnites. palimentus, at right, were discovered known dinosaurs roamed. They Sharks and in the Big Bend area by Tom included Tyrannosaurus rex, marine dinosaurs PRINT OUT OUR DINOSAUR Lehman when he was a graduate Triceratops and Paluxysaurus were also student at the University of Texas Jonesi, which is the official state abundant during COLORING BOOK! at Austin. The creature lived in dinosaur. It was up to 70 feet the era. From Look for this story and a the area about 80 millions years long and weighed 20 tons. At the Milstein Hall ago, when Pilot Knob was an active the end of the era, an ‘‘extinction link to the coloring book at of Ocean Life, bluebonnet.coop. volcano. International Catalogue event’’ wiped out dinosaurs on American Museum Raisonné Association illustration Earth. iStock illustration of Natural History 20 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE June 2020 bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop June 2020 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ­Texas Co-op Power 20A Continued from previous page pelled the influence of gospel music. In the not-so-distant Elmer Akins was born in Pilot War II disrupted their lives. After Knob in 1911 to sharecropper the powerful voices of past, the area the war, some of the original parents. He got his big musical around the extinct members reorganized the band in break in 1947 as host of a California without the Franklins. 15-minute gospel show on Austin’s volcano gave birth The Franklin brothers became KVET. His Gospel Train show singing pastors. The Rev. E.M. grew to 90 minutes and aired for to many great Franklin Sr., known as the “Big 51 years. gospel singers Hearted Preacher,” pastored St. “Akins was recognized by the James Missionary Baptist Church Ermant 'Junior' Texas Association of Broadcasters in East Austin for 39 years. The Rev. PILOT KNOB Franklin as the longest-continuing radio By Denise Gamino A.C. Franklin, a singer known as host in the United States; the “Uncle Koot” who could move association honored him as erhaps the fertile listeners to tears, was pastor in a “Texas Broadcast Legend” Los Angeles for decades before in 1998,” according to “The volcanic soil around returning to Austin in the 1970s. Handbook of Texas.” Akins also Pilot Knob has a secret E.M. Franklin Sr.’s son — E.M. wore the titles “Voice of Austin” Franklin Jr., known as “Junior” and “Deacon of Austin Gospel spiritual ingredient that — was an early member of The A former slave who settled in the Music” during his half-century of Pilot Knob area, Newton Collins had a helped create a joyful noise. Mighty Clouds of Joy, formed broadcasting.” big impact in the region and recently P in the 1950s in Los Angeles. The A short, 1989 documentary had a school named after him. Photo More than a few who grew up New York Times called the group about Akins called “Radio Man: courtesy of Lisa Collins in the shadow of the dormant “one of the most successful gospel Elmer Akins Elmer Akins” can be viewed on quartets of all time.” The Clouds YouTube. Who was Newton Collins? volcano in southeast Austin — won three Grammy Awards. After Akins died in 1998, his protégé, The daughters of E.M. Franklin also were Austin mailman Bill Martin, became the Those who live anywhere near the and their children — have hit prominent gospel singers. Evelyn (known as revered deejay of black gospel music. Martin, Pilot Knob area southeast of Austin stardom in the soulful world of “Tutter”) and Dorothy Franklin were part of who hosted a slot on KIXL, helped Akins may have heard the name Newton black gospel music in America. the “all girl spiritual group” (as a 1955 ad in promote gospel shows by playing records on Collins. Billboard described them) called The Chari- an Austin street corner. Martin's gospel show Newton Isaac Collins Sr. was born The musical legacy of Pilot Knob helped ettes. They had a hit that year with “Step By aired for 34 years. a slave in Alabama and was freed create Grammy- Step.” Their bubbly sister, Barbara Franklin, Martin married “Tutter” Franklin to join by his white father who owned winning The Mighty sang in the 1960s with the Raelettes, backup the list of gospel music legends with ties to him. He then moved to Texas in the Clouds of Joy, The singers for Ray Charles. Radio at that time pro- Pilot Knob. n 1840s as a literate carpenter only Paramount Singers to be enslaved again. He was freed and “girl” group The after the Civil War in 1865. Chariettes. Singers with With freedom at last, Collins began roots there backed up buying Central Texas farmland, in- Ray Charles and made The Chariettes, billed as an ‘all-girl group,’ shown in 1953, has performed for decades. cluding 157 acres that later became gospel music stir the Photo courtesy of Bill and Evelyn Martin and the Texas Music Museum Austin's municipal airport and is airwaves in Central now the site of the Mueller master- Texas. planned neighborhood. In 1891, he E.M. Franklin Brothers Ermant bought 506 acres of farmland in M. “E.M.” Franklin Pilot Knob. To each of his seven Sr. and A.C. Franklin children, he deeded about 72 acres were two of 17 children and helped them build homes. born to Ananias and Bill 'The Callie Franklin, a porter Mailman' He built a schoolhouse, supplying and a homemaker in Martin the desks, books and teacher. His Pilot Knob. As Austin great-granddaughter, Austin civil high school students The gospel group rights activist and civic leader in 1936, the Franklin The Mighty Clouds Ada Anderson, became the first boys co-founded The of Joy expanded African American elected to the Paramount Singers to soul, R&B Austin Community College Board of A.C. Franklin a capella group with and rock, and Trustees and the first black woman friends. They named scored numerous on a bank board in Austin. their gospel group after the ornate Paramount Grammy Awards and nominations, The Del Valle Independent School Theatre on Congress Avenue just blocks along with several District opened Newton Collins from the state Capitol, even though racial hit albums. Elementary School in 2018. segregation prohibited them from entering the renowned venue. The all-male group The man who was twice a slave and All photos courtesy insisted his children stay in school had a radio show on KTBC and their live of Clay Shorkey performances could draw more than 1,200 — even during harvest season — and the Texas continues to play a key role in Texas fans. Music Museum education. The Paramounts recorded for the Library The Paramount Singers were co-founded by E.M. Franklin Sr., second from right, and his of Congress in 1941 and toured until World brother, A.C. Franklin, far left. The group’s live performances could attract more than — Denise Gamino Continued on next page 1,000 fans. Photo courtesy of the Rev. A.C. Franklin and the Texas Music Museum

20B Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE June 2020 bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop June 2020 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ­Texas Co-op Power 20C COMING IN JUNE

PAPER BILL We’ve refreshed the look of your bill, most noticeably moving the stub to the A NEW LOOK — AND NEW FEATURES — bottom. A TO MAKE DOING BUSINESS WITH BLUEBONNET A BREEZE new box at the top highlights the information that you want most — the amount you Soon you will see changes owe on the bill and the MOBILE APP and improvements to our date your payment is Our new mobile app will mobile app, due. Your 13-month usage have a new look, added chart is easier to read, and features and online accounts, we’ve added a splash of login options, and automated phone system, color throughout the bill. easy navigation. Members will need paper bill and more. to download the Pay your bill and The biggest change on new app. We'll your bill: Now you’ll announce the official launch do business with tear off the stub on our current app, our Bluebonnet in the way from the bottom! website and our social media. that works best for you!

AUTOMATED EMAILS WEBSITE PHONE SYSTEM Signed up for Already paying your bill Members will soon be able paperless billing? on our website? We’re to call our current member We’ve rolling out services line, refreshed a new look 800-842-7708, the design to your to pay by of our online check, enroll emails, and members account in automatic will also be able to and new features, payments and have the get communications including information ability to securely store by text or push about the status of payment methods. Set notification. Details your account and more up the new features and on how to sign up options for tracking your future payments will be a will be available energy usage and costs. snap. soon.

20D Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE June 2020 bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop the

2020 SCHOLARSHIPS OF EXCELLENCE Payne Allen, Cedar Creek High School Sarah Cook, Manor Senior High School Ty Patterson, Manor High School Bluebonnet , Bastrop High School awards $2,500 Zoey Croft HEAT Trade and Technical Scholarships scholarships to 60 Adriane Isabelle Justus Carvin, Giddings is High School high school grads Alysia Saldana, Dime Box High School Caitlyn Harman, Bastrop High School luebonnet Electric Cooperative has Caroline Frerich, Smithville High School awarded $150,000 in scholarships to Cecilia Fletcher, University of Texas at Austin 60 eligible high school seniors who High School Bgraduated in 2020. David Davis, Snook High School ON Half of the $2,500 scholarships went to Emily Rivera, Lockhart High School students who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees, Florecita Nava, Lexington High School Bluebonnet’s and the other half to students pursuing trade Hayley Castillo, Round Top-Carmine High School or technical certificates or associate degrees in Jayce Cox, Elgin High School 5 SIMPLE TIPS TO a vocational field. Jordan Boecker, Brenham High School The scholarships were awarded in April. In Kalep Toney, Dime Box High School CONSERVE POWER the past five years, Bluebonnet has given out Kalyn Springer, Lexington High School $679,500 in scholarships to students from Katherine Banda-Segura, Lockhart High AS SUMMER across the cooperative’s service area. School Look for applications for 2021 scholarships Ke'Asia Butler, Caldwell High School TEMPERATURES RISE on the cooperative’s website, bluebonnet. Hailey Thornton, Seguin High School Kennedy Martin, Manor New Tech High coop, by Nov. 1. Harley-Anne Horn, Manor Senior High School School Jenna Johnson, Caldwell High School Kymber Dean, Caldwell High School TURN IT UP Academic Scholarships Jordan Kelm, Brenham High School Kyndal Coufal, Burton High School Kate Kibby, Bastrop High School Logan Schwartz, Brenham High School Set the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, especially from 3 Alexandria Countouriotis, Burton High Kate Urbanovsky, Caldwell High School Luke Dallmeyer, Round Top-Carmine High to 7 p.m. Save as much as 10% on your bill. You can notch up the School Kaylin Krebs, Bellville High School School Alldyn Schroeder, Brenham High School Layne Tharp, Somerville High School Marissa de la Rosa, Giddings High School thermostat a degree per week to help everyone get used to it. Bailey Lyon, Giddings High School Lettie Morris, Lexington High School Marti Roper, Bastrop High School Brooke Vasquez, Smithville High School Lillian Hohlt, Bellville High School Megan McCarthy, Caldwell High School ENJOY THE BREEZE Cade Weiss, Burton High School Macy Alexander, Giddings High School Micaela Garza, Caldwell High School Let your ceiling fan compensate for the higher temperature, Carolina Barboza, Manor New Tech High Macy Sweat, Lexington High School Morgan Fayard, Bastrop High School School Madison Cotton, Concordia High School Sahian Salas, Manor Senior High School but turn it off when you’re not in the room. Colby See, Snook High School Malorie Sanders, Lexington High School Samantha Jackson, Prairie Lea High School Erica Cepeda, Manor Senior High School Marlizeth Castaneda, Cedar Creek High Savana Taylor, Thorndale High School TURN ’EM OFF Ethan Thomas, Navarro High School School Tanner Lewis, Brenham High School Lights can eat up a chunk of your electric bill. Save a little Fritz Anton, Lockhart High School Mia Aschenbeck, Brenham High School Trey Marroquin, Elgin High School more by switching to LED bulbs. Close curtains and blinds during the day to block the sun's heat. CAPITAL CREDITS WISE UP Upgrade to a programmable or smart thermostat to better Bluebonnet members receive control your temperature settings. A smart thermostat lets excess revenue of $4.2 million you remotely adjust the temperature, and some can even ost Bluebonnet members saw a credit on their May bill. It’s called learn and adapt to your habits. “capital credits,” and it is one of the benefits of being a member Mof an electric cooperative. KILL THE VAMPIRES The co-op shares with its members the money it collects above what Gadgets silently eat electricity, even in standby mode. is required to run the business. The amount that members receive de- Plug them into an advanced power strip and turn them off pends on how much electricity they used in previous years and how long they have been Bluebonnet members. In April, Bluebonnet’s when not in use. Board approved returning $4.2 million in capital credits, an increase of $500,000 from last year’s amount. “It’s always good to see a credit on your electric bill, but especially now when so many families and businesses are struggling financially because of the coronavirus outbreak,” said Ben Flencher, Bluebonnet’s Board chairman. Questions? Contact a member service representative at memberser- [email protected] or 800-842-7708.

22 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE June 2020 bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop June 2020 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ­Texas Co-op Power 23 CORONAVIRUS IMPACT

CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS Assistance targets 15 food pantries serve area in time of need luebonnet Electric Cooperative is families struggling working to support 15 food pantries that serve those in need within our 3,800-square-mileB service area. Their work to pay electric bills is especially important during the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. luebonnet’s Board of Directors voted The Bastrop County Emergency Food in their April meeting to provide as- Pantry experienced a 59 percent increase in sistance to several nonprofit organiza- requests for services starting in April. They tionsB that are part of the cooperative’s energy said they have been able to keep up with assistance program. More than 24 such demand, although the loss of more than 50 organizations provide financial assistance to hours of weekly volunteer help a week and Bluebonnet members who need help paying increased travel expenses have posed chal- their electric bills. lenges. Their aid is significant now that many Joe Franks, treasurer of the Giddings Food Bluebonnet members are facing hardship due Pantry, has seen an increase in demand since to the coronavirus and its economic fallout. the coronavirus’s economic impact began, but “We recognize the value that these organi- added that the pantry has several programs zations bring to our members and communi- available to assist residents of Lee and sur- Taylor Andry, program manager, prepares disaster relief boxes for delivery at the ties,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general rounding counties. Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, one of many food assistance programs around manager. “We track the payment assistance Here is a list, locations and contact infor- the Bluebonnet region. Laura Bartleson, below, takes food boxes to families waiting in that they provide to our members. Through- mation for many of the food pantries helping cars. Gabby Silva photos out the year, we look for opportunities to those in need in the Bluebonnet area. Center; second and fourth Friday of the support them in return for their ongoing month, and pick-up times available 3-6 p.m. assistance to our members.” Thursdays and 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Fridays and For information about Bluebonnet’s energy Lockhart area Saturdays. assistance program and a list of nonprofit n Caldwell County Christian Ministries, Keeping the lights on groups that provide assistance, visit our web- 901 Bois D’Arc St., Lockhart; 512-376-6661; Brenham, Burton and Washington Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative employees have been working to maintain site at bluebonnet.coop/assistance. caldwellfoodpantry.com. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., County area operations during the coronavirus crisis. Because our employees provide essential The assistance approved by Bluebonnet’s Monday-Thursday. services and maintain critical infrastructure across a large portion of Central Texas, Board of Directors on April 21 is part of the n The Luling Food Bank, 402 S. Mulberry n Faith Mission, 500 E. Academy St., everyone has made adjustments. Our member service representatives still answer co-op’s overall efforts to help its members St., Luling, 830-875-2863; on Facebook as Brenham, 800-845-8035, faithmission.us. the phones, but most have been handling calls from home. Amy Carroll, above, and communities during the coronavirus Luling Food Bank. Open 8 a.m.-noon; check Help center open 9 a.m.-noon, and 1-5 p.m., helps a member on a call, while her son, Michael, studies on the couch. Line worker crisis. Bluebonnet is also helping families and with them about dates food is distributed. Monday-Friday; food pantry open 10 a.m.- Michael Guajardo, below, dons a mask. All field employees wear face coverings noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays. when they are required or needed. Those who work to maintain our equipment and businesses by temporarily suspending discon- n Hays County Food Bank, 220 Herndon St., nections for nonpayment, waiving late fees, n Bread Partners of Washington County, restore power follow additional safety steps, including daily health checks, social San Marcos, 512-392-8300; haysfoodbank.org. 6 distancing with the public, fewer crew members in individual trucks and sanitary deferring payment due dates and making Their pantry is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday- 1305 E. Blue Bell Road (Washington County precautions. Amy Carroll photo, Joe Stafford photo payment arrangements for members in need. Thursday, and 8 a.m.-noon Fridays. Fairgrounds), Brenham; Joe Williams at 979- Bluebonnet has also increased support to the 830-0886, on Facebook at facebook.com/ 15 food banks in the co-op’s service area that Bastrop area BreadPartners. Food distributed Tuesdays are providing meals to families who have lost beginning at 8 a.m. income due to the coronavirus shut-down. n Smithville Food Pantry, 301 Lee St., n Burton Bridge Ministry, 12607 W. “Everyone at Bluebonnet is proud to be Smithville, 512-237-2322, Washington St., Burton; Susie Tommaney able to support our communities and offer smithvillefoodpantry.com; 9-11:30 a.m. at 979-337-3370; burtonbridgeministry. our members options to help them through Wednesdays. org; hot meals provided to seniors noon- this difficult time,” Bentke said. “We have n Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, with to-go times 12:30 p.m. Fridays; mobile food pantry was planned a multimillion-dollar package this 806 Fayette St., Bastrop, 512-303-0033, available. scheduled to open May 22. year to help our members and communities. bastropfoodpantry.org; 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 n Community Cupboard, 114 Depot St., Elgin, Additionally, our members are benefiting p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 512-285-4552, on Facebook at facebook.com/ Other community resources from a December rate reduction that will first Thursday of the month, by appointment. ElginCommunityCupboard; 10 a.m.-noon n Drive A Senior in Elgin, 512-281-6553, save them $4.8 million this year. We will n In the Streets-Hands Up High Ministry, Tuesdays (closed fifth Tuesday of the month.) driveasenior.org/elgin. Provides medical continue to seek opportunities to support 987 N. Texas 95, Bastrop, 512-317-7503, n First Baptist Church of Elgin, 205 W and health-related transportation for non- our communities and help our members in itshuh.org. Their drive-through soup kitchen is Second St., Elgin, 512-285-4161, fbcelgin.org/ driving seniors in the Elgin community; call need.” open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Learn ministry/food-pantry; 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays 9 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday. Bluebonnet members who need assistance more about distribution locations and times on and Thursdays (closed fifth Tuesday of the n Meals on Wheels has pick-up locations with their electric bill, or need to request a their website. month.) in Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays and Lee payment arrangement, should call Bluebon- counties; call Noelia Buck, senior nutrition net’s member services at 800-842-7708 or Manor and Elgin area Giddings area program director, 800-333-6325 or 979- 540-2980; ccaction.com/community- visit a drive-through lane at one of the coop- n Manor United Methodist Church, 510 n Giddings Food Pantry, 190 N Harris St., action/meals-on-wheels. erative’s member service centers in Bastrop, Burnet St. North, Manor; speak to Nancy Giddings; call Joe Franks at 979-820-5863; on Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart or Manor. Boatwrights at 512-925-1813; manorumc.org; Facebook — search for Giddings Area Care — Alyssa Dussetschleger

24 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE June 2020 bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop June 2020 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ­Texas Co-op Power 25