Bluebonnet and LCRA representatives present a $50,000 grant to the Rockne Community Recreation Center for new baseball field lighting. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left, are Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA regional affairs representative; Josh Thomas, Bluebonnet’s Bastrop-area community representative; Matthew L. ‘Matt’ Arthur, LCRA board member; Roderick Emanuel, Bluebonnet Board Vice President/Vice Chairman; Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA board member; State Rep. Stan Gerdes; Marty Mercer Sr., recreation center president; Margaret D. ‘Meg’ Voelter, LCRA board member; Josh Almendarez, recreation center field commissioner; Paige Cox, recreation center vice president; Mark Mayo, LCRA board member; Al Bauer, recreation center member; Stacy Kazmir, recreation center secretary; and Gabriella Almendarez, recreation center treasurer.

The Rockne Community Recreation Center will soon upgrade its community baseball field with new durable light poles and LED lights, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The community grant, along with $21,888 in matching funds from the recreation center, will pay to replace damaged wood poles and add energy-efficient LED lighting to increase safety at the fields, which host a number of community leagues and events throughout the year.

News of the grant comes at a good time for two reasons. First, the center is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary. And almost as important, the center needed to find a way to stop area birds from damaging wood poles at the field, creating a concern that heavy winds might cause the poles to topple.

“Some of the existing wooden light poles are more than 40 years old,” said Al Bauer, Rockne Community Recreation Center member. “Woodpeckers have actually pecked holes in the existing poles, which have caused a few to break off. Replacing them with metal or concrete poles will ensure the improvements we make are longer lasting.”

The center hosts both youth and adult baseball/softball leagues, as well as an annual BBQ cookoff, a fish fry, Easter egg hunt and other events.

Paige Cox, community center vice president, said the improved lighting will allow the organization to extend its playing hours, which is needed as interest in outdoor recreation and league play continues to grow.

“Our fields have seen generations of families participating in community leagues, and as we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026, receiving this grant feels particularly meaningful,” Cox said.

“These improvements will ensure future generations can enjoy the same sense of community, pride and tradition that RCRC has built over the past five decades.”

This is one of five grants recently awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Grants program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bluebonnet is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program. 

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/grants.

Bluebonnet and LCRA representatives present a $19,869 grant to the Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department for new protective equipment. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left, are Kyle Ward, Mike Santucci and John R. Ertz, firefighters; Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA board member; State Rep. Stan Gerdes; Matthew L. ‘Matt' Arthur and Margaret D. ‘Meg’ Voelter, LCRA board members; Debbi Goertz, Bluebonnet Board member; Mark Mayo, LCRA board member; Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA regional affairs representative; Roderick Emanuel, Bluebonnet Board Vice President/Vice Chairman; and Josh Thomas, Bluebonnet’s Bastrop-area community representative.

Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department will soon purchase additional protective equipment to increase the number of firefighters who can safely respond to emergencies with the VFD, thanks to a $19,869 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The community grant, along with $5,159 in matching funds from the VFD, will equip four additional firefighters with gear such as special jackets, helmets and boots to fight wildland, vehicle and structure fires. Having more firefighters can help speed up response time and mitigate potential property damage, injury and loss of life.

“Without this grant, we would only be able to properly equip one of our four trained volunteer firefighters,” said James Lewey, Heart of the Pines VFD treasurer. “When something like a fire happens, our goal is to ensure that every trained first responder is able to quickly jump into action, and frankly new equipment can be very cost prohibitive.”

Heart of the Pines VFD provides emergency assistance to a 35-square-mile area in eastern Bastrop County. The department also provides mutual aid to other area departments and participates in Bastrop County wildland fire task forces.

“Because we are entirely made up of volunteers, there are times when our department receives emergency calls and not everyone will be able to respond,” Lewey said. “It’s vital that we have as many firefighters as we can that are properly equipped, and thanks to this grant we will be able to continue the training of four firefighters that will be able to respond.”

This is one of five grants recently awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Grants program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bluebonnet is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program. 

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/grants.