Story by Alyssa Dussetschleger 

If you think you're seeing more electric vehicles on the roads of Central Texas, your eyes aren’t lying. By mid-June this year, more than 52,000 electric vehicles — or EVs — were registered in Texas, and 63% of them are model years 2020 or newer, according to data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Of the 14 counties where Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative provides power, 10,329 electric vehicles were registered as of August, according to data from the Texas DMV. That’s a fraction of the cars and trucks registered in the area’s counties, but the electric vehicle numbers are going to grow.

One electric vehicle driver’s advice on avoiding ‘range anxiety’»

Teslas are the most popular electric vehicles in counties served by Bluebonnet: 5,179 are registered. Of those, slightly fewer than half are the popular Model 3 sedan, the most affordable Tesla at $39,000. There are another 1,848 Tesla Model Y mid-sized sport utility vehicles, which start at $53,990, on area roads. The least common Tesla (750 are registered) in the region is the high performing S model, a luxury sedan starting at $89,990.

Most popular after the Tesla models is Nissan’s Leaf, a compact car that starts at $27,400. There are 574 of them registered in the region. Next are Chevrolet Bolts, which start at $31,000, with 474 registered in our area.

Plenty of drivers nationwide — 71 percent — say they would consider buying an electric survey by Consumer Reports in 2020. Of course, the massive new Tesla manufacturing facility in eastern Travis County should have new vehicles rolling off the factory floor in a few months, which is certain to raise Central Texans’ Tesla-buying fever.

Two Tesla owners talk

Jeff Nelson was 55 when he bought his first vehicle, an electric Tesla Model 3, in 2018. He got his driver’s license just two years earlier. 

The delay was tied to Nelson’s lifelong vision impairment, but that changed in 2015 when he got bioptic lenses, specialized vision-enhancing telescopic lenses that attach to eyeglass lenses. The bioptics can magnify what is seen up to six times, according to the private practice Bioptic Driving USA.

Even though he had his license, before 2018, Nelson didn’t need a car. He lived near his office in Austin and relied on public transportation or his wife to get around.

But three years ago Nelson and his wife, Taffy, moved into a new 2,500-square-foot home in the Whisper Valley subdivision in the Bluebonnet service area. 

The development, on FM 973 just east of the Texas 130 toll road, has more than 200 single-family homes and 40 more are under construction. The houses all come with solar panels and other energy-saving options such as geothermal infrastructure, energy-smart appliances and prewiring for garage-mounted electric vehicle chargers.

Nelson did his homework and decided the Model 3 best fit his lifestyle and driving needs. He bought a Tesla wall connector to charge the car in his garage via a 220- volt plug (a standard household outlet is 120 volts) and a 45-inch tall lithium-ion battery to store electricity generated by his solar panels. The slim, rectangular 251-pound Powerwall, also made by Tesla, stores 13.5 kilowatt hours of power for use after the sun goes down or if backup power is needed. Nelson’s wall connector cost $500 and the Powerwall cost $7,500 in 2018.

With his car’s range of 300 miles on a full charge, and Nelson working mostly from home, he only charges his car once a week. His electric bill averages about $40 a month, he estimated.

Deanna Bodine is another Bluebonnet member who drives a 2018 Tesla Model 3.

She lives in Bastrop with her husband and five children, and has been a Bastrop County resident and Bluebonnet member since 2001. She teaches music at Emile Elementary School in Bastrop. Before buying the Tesla, she drove a 2011 Kia Sorento. She bought her Model 3 online, she said, and had it delivered to the Tesla service center on Research Boulevard in Austin.

When Bodine moved into her current home in 2019, she equipped her garage with a 240-volt outlet — the type commonly used for electric ovens, dryers or RV plugs — to charge her EV. She usually charges her car at home, daily. Her mobile charger, which came with her car, can charge 21 miles of range in an hour.

Charging her Tesla hasn’t made much of a noticeable impact on Bodine’s electric bill. “Maybe $20 to $30, but I couldn’t tell if it increased due to the heat or charging,” she said.

Bodine has been satisfied with her Tesla and would gladly purchase another electric vehicle. She’s not sure about the make and model, though. “The biggest factor will be nationwide charging ability,” she said.

Get ready for a wave of new electric vehicles

Electric vehicles are rolling past niche status and into the mainstream, and almost every major car manufacturer will offer an electric model in the next few years.

Among those on the list are Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda, Porsche, Kia, Stellantis (which includes Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati vehicles), Volvo, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Jaguar, Subaru, Land Rover, Mercedes and General Motors.

As more EVs are made and battery technology gets better, their prices will likely compete with gasoline-fueled vehicles, accordingto the U.S. Department of Energy. Next year’s electric models range from the $29,990 MINI two-door, to the moderately priced $39,990 Kia Niro EV, all the way up to the $150,900 Porsche Taycan Turbo. Volvo has stated that by 2030, it would produce only electric vehicles. General Motors aims to offer 30 different EV models by 2025.
 

The first full-sized electric pickup from a major manufacturer, the Ford F-150 Lightning, is expected to hit showroom floors in mid-2022. The Lightning, which will start at $39,974 according to Ford’s website, looks similar to Ford’s other F-150 trucks. There are no Ford Lightnings in area showrooms as of this publication’s deadline, but you can reserve one online from your local dealership.

At its Bluebonnet service-area factory, Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk have said the company will make the newest Model 3 sedans, Model Y crossover SUVs and two new vehicles: the futuristic looking Cybertrucks, starting at $39,900, and the big Semi trucks for long-haul commercial drivers, starting at $180,000.

Manufacturers are touting many of the new EVs’ increased ranges (the distance an electric vehicle can drive on a single charge) and affordability. Nissan’s 2022 Ariya, an electric sport-utility vehicle, will retail for about $40,000, according to an estimate from Consumer Reports. The Ariya will have a range of 300 miles on a single charge if the buyer chooses the “long-range battery” option.

U.S. electric vehicle sales could account for 25% to 30% of the new-car market in 2030, and as much as 50% by 2035, according to projections by IHS Markit, a leading global data provider for major industries and markets. 

However, EVs’ cost, range and battery longevity (which is typically 100,000 miles in standard electric vehicles today, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) still make plenty of Central Texas drivers pause at the idea of going electric — especially those in rural areas who regularly travel long distances.

It will probably cost less to power an electric vehicle than a gasoline-powered car or truck. The U.S. Department of Energy says that fueling your car with gasoline costs nearly three times as much as fueling a vehicle with electricity. Additionally, the Alternative Fuels Data Center reports electric vehicles have fewer parts and usually do not need as much maintenance as gasoline-powered vehicles. The only maintenance required on Bodine’s Tesla has been “replacing the tires every three years or 40,000 miles, and windshield washer fluid as needed.”

A Chevrolet Bolt’s maintenance schedule includes tire rotation, air filter replacement and draining vehicle coolant circuits at 150,000 miles. Additional maintenance and care may include brakes, heat and radiator hose inspection, lights, windshields and wiper blades.

The most costly repair usually associated with owning an EV is the battery, according to Consumer Reports. The lifespan of an EV battery depends on the model. Chevrolet, for example, provides an eight year or 100,000-mile battery warranty. Tesla high-voltage batteries are under warranty for four years or 50,000 miles. Manufacturers typically do not publish pricing for replacement batteries, but if the battery does need to be replaced outside the warranty, it is expected to be a significant expense according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center.

A major factor in the rush to make electric vehicles in the U.S. is due, in part, to pressure and regulations from the federal and some state governments, according to Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of IHS Markit.

The drive for more electric vehicles faces significant challenges: Electric vehicle manufacturers will have to create entire new supply chains and the vehicles will require new charging infrastructure on a massive scale, he wrote recently. 

The biggest challenge, however, will be changing car buyers’ habits: Moving from the familiar to the unknown on such a major investment won’t be easy. But as Texans see more EVs on the road and in the neighbor’s driveway, minds may change. Electric vehicles won’t rule the roads of Central Texas any time soon, but be prepared to make room. 

New makes, models of EVs in 2022 and beyond 

Automotive News, a weekly newspaper for the automotive industry, estimates that there will be nearly 100 models of electric vehicles available nationwide by the end of 2022. Buyers will see more crossover sport utility vehicles and pickups, from full to mid-size. Many new models will arrive in 2022, with preorders available now. Several automakers have also released plans for vehicles through 2024.

Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Starts at $33,000; Electric SUV, 2022 models in transit to dealers, available for purchase now; 247-mile estimated range; dual-level charge cord with attachment plugs for 120- or 240-volt outlets; hands-free and semi-autonomous driving assistance features; Level 2 charging outlet installed by Chevrolet at home of eligible buyers. 
 

Kia EV6
Starts at $58,500; First edition of new Kia line of crossover EVs, limited number (1,500) being produced, coming January 2022; seats 5, futuristic design with dual curved screens and display, estimated 300- mile range; wait list available.

EVs coming in 2022 and beyond

• 2022 Tesla Cybertruck (manufactured in Travis County)
• 2022 Toyota bZ4X, Toyota’s first electric crossover SUV
• 2023 Subaru Solterra, Subaru’s first electric SUV
• 2023 Jeep Wrangler Magneto 
• 2024 Ram 1500 EV, a full-size pickup
• 2024 GMC Hummer
• 2024 Honda Prologue SUV
• 2022 BMW and Mercedes Benz, releasing multiple EVs including small cars such as EQS from Mercedes Benz and SUVs such as the 2022 iX from BMW

Hyundai IONIQ 5
No pricing available; crossover, coming in 2022; estimated 300-mile range (168 kilowatt motor); equipped for “ultra-fast charging” of 60 miles range in 5 minutes; two years unlimited 30-minute free charging on some DC fast chargers in partnership with Electrify America.

Where to charge? Area EV stations

Looking for a place to plug in? PlugShare, a website and app that locates charging
stations, shows more than 30 electric vehicle charging stations in Bluebonnet’s
service area. They include:

Bastrop: Bring your own Level 2 charging cord and connector to Basin RV Resort, 98 Texas 71, 2 miles east of intersection with Texas 21; $10 per charging session.

Brenham: One Level 2 charging station with two charging cords at City Hall, 200 W. Vulcan St.; Level 2 charging stations at Coach Light Inn, 2242 S. Market St., free and open to public; chargers at Holiday Inn Express, 2685 Schulte Blvd. and at Best Western Inn, 1503 U.S. 290 E. for hotel guests’ use.

Caldwell: One Level 2 charging station at Bud Cross Ford, 150 Texas 36 at U.S. 21 intersection, free and open to public 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Cedar Creek: Four Level 2 chargers for resort guests at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road (off Texas 71 W.); chargers installed through partnership with Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

Elgin: Two Level 2 chargers at Austin Community College campus, 1501 U.S. 290, 2 miles west of intersection with U.S. 95; $4-$12 per charging session, based on time.

Giddings: 8 Tesla Superchargers at CEFCO Travel Center, 3025 W. Austin St. (which is also U.S. 290) 2 miles east of intersection with U.S. 77; payment required based on usage, charging time up to 30 minutes.

Manor: Two Level 2 Tesla chargers and 1 standard EV Level 2 charger (J-1772 connection) at Whisper Valley subdivision, 9400 Petrichor Blvd, at the Amenity and Discovery Center, free to the public; one Level 2 charger, free for residents of The Flats at Shadowglen apartment complex, 12500 Shadowglen Trace.

New Ulm: Two Level 2 chargers for visitors and the public at The Vine wedding and event venue, 25642 Bernard Road, 8 miles south of Industry.

San Marcos: 12 Tesla Superchargers at San Marcos Premium Outlets, 3939 S. I-35, payment required based on usage.

Charging 101: Powering an electric vehicle 

Chargers vary in type, voltage, connector type, speed at which they charge and  what vehicles they can charge.

There are three levels of chargers: AC Level 1, AC Level 2 and DC Level 3 fast chargers (or Superchargers for Teslas).

Level 1 is the simplest and slowest. A specialized adapter plugs the car into a standard 120-volt outlet. (Standard household outlets are 120 volts.) That will give the car about 3-5 miles of driving range per hour of charging — very slow.

Most EV owners use Level 2 AC chargers at home or on the road. The Level 2 runs off a 240-volt outlet, the same type used to power most clothes dryers. It can power an electric vehicle three to seven times faster than the Level 1 charger – about 10-30 miles of range every hour. A Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative member would pay $3.44 to give a 2021 Nissan Leaf enough power to drive 149 miles. 

A new 240-volt outlet and wall charger should be installed by a certified electrician or installer.

If you’re looking for more juice, public charging stations are often equipped with powerful Level 3 chargers. A Tesla Supercharger, only for Teslas, can charge a Model 3 with 200 miles of range in 15 minutes. For most other electric vehicles, a Level 3 DC fast charger can provide 180 to 240 miles of range per hour of charging. Not every electric vehicle model can charge at Level 3, so check vehicle specifications.

Unless you drive a Tesla, there are two types of connectors for DC fast chargers, and they are not interchangeable between vehicle models. Make sure you know which type you have or need. 

Public charging, especially Level 3, often isn’t free. Drivers may pay by the minute or by how much electricity they use. Prices can vary based on electricity cost and charging level.

Sources: epa.gov, energy.gov, Alternative Fuels Data Center (afdc.energy.gov), fueleconomy.gov, consumerreports.org, Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com), tesla.com, myev.com

There's an app for that (finding a charging station) 

Most new electric vehicle models, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Hyundai Kona, will have charging maps built into their navigation systems. But many electric vehicle owners opt for smartphone apps to help plan their routes, especially for longer trips.

PlugShare — Filter for your plug and charging level type, and exclude chargers currently in use; on its website, find amenities at charging stations such as restrooms

ChargePoint — Find stations, check charger availability, get updates about your vehicle’s charge status and range; at ChargePoint charging stations, app unlocks chargers for real-time charging updates; app also synchs with Apple and Google maps to find nearest available charger

ChargeHub EV Map — Trip planner will find charging locations on your route; create a user profile, check in to a station, leave comments and pictures to help other users select a station

Google Maps — Added EV charging stations to map features in 2011; search “charging stations” to find one nearby; see how many chargers are available, their type and power capabilities

Chargemap — Search a city or ZIP code using app or website to get charging station details, addresses and hours, amenities, charger types; apply filters to find correct power level and necessary connector; app also includes route-planning tool and user reviews of charging stations.

How do you buy a Tesla in Texas?

You cannot go to a dealer in Texas to buy a Tesla because Tesla doesn’t have dealerships in Texas — or anywhere else.

Texas law requires automotive manufacturers to sell their vehicles to independently owned third-party businesses such as dealerships, which then sell to individuals. One exception: used Teslas obtained through trade-ins can be sold by dealers.

Texans who want to buy a Tesla must either buy it online from tesla.com or in another state; then it must be delivered by Tesla to a regional Tesla service center for pick up. The vehicle will have out-of-state registration, and new owners have 30 days to register their Tesla in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Texas has 12 Tesla service centers. Those nearest the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative region are in Austin (12845 Research Blvd. in North Austin), two in Houston (9633 Westheimer Road and 14820 North Freeway in North Houston) and in San Antonio (23011 I-10 W). 

At tesla.com, you can buy new or used vehicles for an order fee ranging from $100 to $500. Buyers create a Tesla account and go through a step-by-step process of “delivery tasks,” which include submitting the final payment, financing and/or trade-in documentation. You’ll also receive the vehicle’s VIN and schedule delivery to a Tesla service center.

The waiting time for your Tesla varies with financing and model availability. The estimated delivery of new cars, at our time of publication, is January 2022 for a Model Y or Model 3, February 2022 for a Model S and April 2022 for a Model X. In early September 2021, there were many used car options on Tesla’s website.

Once your Tesla arrives at the service center, a technician will show you how to operate and navigate it. More information is at tesla.com/support/ordering.

Sources: statesman.com, capitol.texas.gov, businessinsider.com, tesla.com/support/ordering

Download this story as it appeared in the Texas Co-op Power magazine »

By Dana Frank 

Not so long ago, I drove regular gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. When I needed to fuel up, I could feel it in my bones and, of course, see it on the fuel gauge. I filled the tank when, and not before, the gauge neared E.

Half my life, I’ve lived 30 miles from a metro area, and the ability to drive wherever, whenever, has always been essential. I’m not alone in my drive for independence. The automobile is celebrated in America, which has nearly 50 million more cars than licensed drivers, according to the federal government. I’m in Texas, after all, where driving near and far most every day represents my autonomy and freedom.

But I’ve paid the price for that independence. On my round trips to town every day I cruised into gas stations, and I bought a lot of fuel. I had a 1998 VW diesel Bug that cost $11 to fill and pounded out nearly 50 miles to the gallon. But I also drove several thirsty pickups and one muscle car (don’t ask) over the years and came to resent the pricey twice-weekly gas station stops.

A few years ago, though, aside from annoyance at paying upward of $300 a month for gas, I had begun to feel guilty about the carbon footprint of my long-distance commute. The quiet electric vehicle beckoned from the shadows of my awareness, and I bought one.

Now the energy source I need in order to travel from here to there doesn’t flow freely from easy-to-reach pumps dotting Texas roadways. Some EV owners, including me, have to hunt for vehicle juice, at least for now. I’m a believer that someday the electric vehicle-charging infrastructure will ramp up to meet demand.

Until that time, if you see me or other EV drivers rolling along, nervously alert for our elusive quarry – a charging station – understand that our condition has a name: range anxiety.

At first, my transition to the world of EVs was easy. I “researched” them on the coattails of someone else, then traded my gas-fueled car for a brand-new zippy, compact four-door 2019 Chevy Bolt. I could plug my car’s charge adapter into the 120-volt outlet in my garage and get an overnight charge. I gleefully drove past gas stations and gradually got used to my car’s power needs. I was coming and going just like my petroleum-powered days, traveling at least 60 miles a day.

The bright dashboard display showed me precisely what time my electric charge would be complete. If I plugged in at home at 6 p.m., say, I’d have a full charge by the wee hours of the next morning. I wasn’t worried. A full charge on my Bolt could carry me 250 miles, give or take. That was plenty.

But a year and a half later I moved. At my new dwelling, I no longer have a place to plug in at night. There’s no retail charging station nearby, either. I don’t always start the day with confidence and a feeling of freedom. My mornings often begin with a question: Can I get where I need to go? Can I make it to Independence in Washington County to meander among the blossoms at the Antique Rose Emporium? This is when my range anxiety kicks in.

So I map my meanderings in relation to retail charging stations, like the one at the city park where I swim, and the one near the coffee shop where I write. If all goes to plan, I easily get my charge, take a deep breath and sometimes even feel a bit prideful.

Sometimes, however, things don’t go according to plan. I approach a parking spot that has a charger, and it’s occupied and in use. My heart sinks and tightens in my chest. Don’t even get me started about charging spaces that are occupied by a vehicle that’s not electric. I may have only 57 miles of range on my gauge and miles to go before I sleep. I must conserve enough range to reach a charging station in the morning. One day I was down to my last 5 miles before I found a place to charge. My anxiety rises in inverse proportion to my range gauge, and I’m no longer smug.

The happy news is that range anxiety is a treatable ailment. Planning ahead and using common sense are the easiest cures. But for those considering an electric vehicle, I have some advice.

• Charge your EV at home. Whether you plug your vehicle’s adapter into a 120-volt outlet or use a dedicated wall-mounted charger, the ability to consistently and easily charge up while you sleep is the number one cure for range anxiety. When I move again, that will be a priority.
• Get hip to the apps that display EV charging stations’ locations and their availability, so you have good back-up options. I’m behind the curve on that, I admit. You can get there with ChargePoint, PlugShare, ChargeHub EV Map or Chargemap. Even Google Maps shows the location of EV charging stations now.
• If you’re getting worried about making your destination, ease up on the go pedal and, if you can, turn off amenities such as the AC and radio. Their use drains your range. For example, when I turn off my AC, I watch the range level rise in real time by about 25 percent. Yes, turning off the AC is a lot to ask in sweaty Central Texas, but that range expanding peace of mind may be worth it.
• If you drive a lot, and can do it, go ahead and splurge for one of the newest electric vehicles. Many 2022 EV models tout ranges of up to 300 miles per charge. The newest technology may be the best way to battle range anxiety. 

My particular case of range anxiety probably falls under the category of “user error.” Don’t let my story of hitting the occasional speed bump deter you from charging into the electric vehicle revolution.

Download this story as it appeared in the Texas Co-op Power magazine »

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s buildings, vehicles and employees are sporting gold during September to support the fight against childhood cancer. 

This is the fourth year Bluebonnet has gone gold during September in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The cooperative’s buildings will be illuminated in gold light and its vehicles will don gold decals. 

“Cancer is a terrible disease for anyone to endure, but especially for children who have so much of their lives ahead of them,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “Nearly everyone knows a family who has been touched by childhood cancer. The stories of children courageously fighting for their lives is what inspired Bluebonnet to support this cause.”

In the September issue of Texas Co-op Power magazine, Bluebonnet featured Viviann Snow’s battle with a neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Snow, a second-grader from Rosanky, was diagnosed in January of this year. Read more about Snow’s fight and the support she has received from family, friends and the community.

There are many resources available to learn more about how to support the fight against childhood cancer. For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute’s website at cancer.gov, the American Cancer Society at cancer.org, the American Childhood Cancer Organization at acco.org, CURE Childhood Cancer at curechildhoodcancer.org, or the nearest Ronald McDonald house in your region, rmhc.org.

By Ed Crowell

Each issue of a local newspaper offers a time capsule of contemporary life, capturing the ups and downs of any town, big or small.

Community newspapers across the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative service area are by, for and about local residents. Their unique blend of hyper-local news, school sports stories, community events coverage and personality-driven columns by local residents keeps readers paying attention — and paying to read.

Many of them have been publishing for well over 100 years, too.

While big newspapers in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and some other cities publish seven days a week, this region’s small-town newspapers print once, twice or three times a week. Most now offer digital versions or news update emails.

In addition to their longevity and remaining the resource of record for many communities, they perform an important service: getting useful information to readers, said Jeff Wick, the enthusiastic managing editor of the Fayette County Record. 

“Community newspapers like us are still vital because nobody besides us is doing in-depth coverage of local government and law enforcement,” he said. “Nobody besides us is interviewing local athletes as they excel. Nobody besides us is reaching the ever-growing numbers of people who are turning away from social media as a reliable source of news.”

Wick, who began working at the newspaper in 2009, says the twice-weekly Record’s circulation is growing. “We have a very loyal subscriber base. While most newspapers have seen their print circulation plummet over the past decade, we’ve really held our own.”

The coronavirus pandemic caused business closures and public gathering restrictions over the past 18 months that negatively affected newspapers, he said. But “we still have a very robust classified section. Retail print advertising has been curtailed by the pandemic, but we are hopeful that will return as local events (come back) post-pandemic.”

Wick and the Fayette County Record publisher Regina Barton Keilers had a conversation as the COVID-19 crisis began to unfold in early 2020 and non-essential businesses were closing.

“She asked if we should (close), too,” Wick said. “I thought it was important to the community that we keep the doors open, a symbol that we’re still here for you. Immediate pay-off came a few days later when the county judge strolls in and — because we are open and available — let us know about Fayette County’s first confirmed case of COVID.”

In a pandemic, small newspapers are more important than ever, said Mike Hodges, executive director of the Texas Press Association. “That’s the only way people in some communities can get current local information. You need that news in emergencies like this.”

Up and down Main Street in small towns, many businesses closed temporarily or for good because of the pandemic. “That means they were not advertising in the local papers. It’s been a struggle,” Hodges said.

At the same time, many public agencies were not easily accessible because of coronavirus restrictions, so newspapers have been relying more on open-record requests for public documents. “Some agencies were taking a month to respond, citing skeleton crews in offices and employees working from home. That was too long,” Hodges said.

Texas has 75 daily newspapers and 388 weeklies, according to the Texas Press Association. “We’re a resource to help them manage their businesses in terms of sharing information,” Hodges said. “If they have a question, for example, of how to handle paid versus free obituaries, we connect them via [a group email list] to the experiences of other newspapers. That interaction with other publishers is priceless.”

The Texas Center for Community Journalism, based at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, is another resource for small newspapers. It provides free training on a variety of subjects to help small newspapers survive in an ever-changing business environment.

Publishers and editors of nine newspapers in the Bluebonnet region spoke about their publications and the role they play in their communities.

The Bastrop Advertiser and The Smithville Times

An unusual ownership arrangement is in place for two weeklies in Bastrop County. The Bastrop Advertiser and The Smithville Times are published by the daily Austin American-Statesman, which is owned by the national Gannett Co. newspaper chain.

The newspapers have deep community roots. The Bastrop Advertiser was first published in 1853 and today has 5,000 subscribers. The Smithville Times, with 2,500 subscribers, began publishing in 1894.

Andy Sevilla has been editor of the two community papers since 2015. He and one full-time reporter write for both the Advertiser, which has Thursday and Saturday editions, and for the Times’ single Thursday edition. He writes two or three stories a week and the reporter writes at least five stories a week.

Their articles often appear on the Austin American-Statesman website, statesman.com, and occasionally in that paper’s print edition.

Content overlaps in the two papers at times, such as news from the Bastrop County Commissioners Court meetings. The towns are only 13 miles apart, so major news events in one town are likely of interest in the other. Business coverage also often overlaps.

The front page of each edition is “hyper local” for each town, though, Sevilla said.

Both papers typically are 12 pages on Thursdays, and on Saturday the Bastrop edition is usually 8 pages. Freelance columnist Debbie Moore writes about social, historical and entertainment events. Bill McCann, Joni Ashbrook and Don Loucks all write political opinion columns twice a month.

“We cover all the major high school sports as much as we can with freelancers,” Sevilla said.

The pandemic kept Sevilla away from the newspaper’s office in Bastrop, but he said remote coverage of government meetings was possible when public officials began meeting in an online format via Zoom.

Although the daily Austin American Statesman is printed in Houston now, the Bastrop and Smithville papers are printed in Corpus Christi. That makes deadlines 24 hours in advance of publication. “We have to work harder to make sure the stories will still have a shelf life and are of value to the readers,” Sevilla said.

During the pandemic, single-copy newspaper sales dropped dramatically at grocery and convenience stores and at Walmart, but those sales have been bouncing back recently.

“Growth is definitely making its way to the Lost Pines region, so a lot of our coverage involves the opening of new businesses,” Sevilla said. Local government and school news is a priority, too.

“The Bastrop Advertiserr has a storied past as the oldest weekly newspaper still existing in Texas,” Sevilla said. “With such a rich history, we put great effort into reflecting our community pride in the stories we tell.

“I love what I do, and I’d encourage anyone to pick up our papers and see how we cover our area.”

The Brenham Banner Press

In Washington County, the Brenham Banner-Press publishes three days a week with a personal touch on the bottom of every front page: “Happy birthday wishes to . . .” 

Friends and relatives of people celebrating birthdays contact the paper with names and dates for Page One display. “It’s a nice tradition that’s been around longer than I’ve been here,” said Derek Hall, the publisher and editor who started at the Banner Press as a photographer 21 years ago.

The newspaper published six days a week until the coronavirus pandemic hit, when many businesses closed or stopped advertising. Hall doesn’t foresee more than three issues a week anytime soon, but the paper emails breaking stories to its 1,000 digital subscribers. It has 4,500 total subscribers.

Fourteen full-time employees produce the paper, which has its own press. Eight other Houston-area newspapers are printed there. Most Banner-Press editions are 12 to 16 pages, with two or three magazine style sections printed each month to celebrate seasons, holidays and events such as the annual German heritage themed Brenham Maifest.

“We pride ourselves on being local first,” Hall said. “We’re here for the community. That’s our main objective.” Another fixture at the bottom of the front page of each issue is a “Water Usage” list. Brenham is dependent on nearby Lake Somerville for drinking water and the lake is a popular fishing and boating area, so the lake levels are reported regularly. Rainfall amounts and city water use also are listed.

Two longtime column writers provide interesting viewpoints: Bill Neinast, a retired Army colonel, writes about the military and other issues, and Cathy Ganske writes about a variety of topics, ranging from gardening to politics, in Cathy’s Corner.

The Burleson County Tribune

The Burleson County Tribune, founded in 1884, is a small weekly newspaper with a long history. Based in Caldwell, the newspaper also covers news from the towns of Snook and Somerville. It has a paid circulation of 3,129. The digital issue is delivered to 243 subscribers.

Editor Roy Sanders said all local high school sports are big news in the area because so many families are involved.

In spring 2021, a 16- page issue featured five pages of coverage of high school basketball games. Many large color photos captured the boys’ and girls’ teams in action.

The Burleson County Fair each September is another major source of news as students prepare, show and auction their animals. “It’s our biggest event (to cover) by far,” Sanders said.

The Tribune also devotes major coverage to the annual Kolache Festival in Caldwell and the yearly Chilifest country music event near Snook. The two day Chilifest Music Festival draws thousands of fans from Texas A&M University, but the April show was canceled in 2020 and this year as well because of the coronavirus.

The paper has retained most of its advertisers during the pandemic. “It was more difficult, but we have a good footprint here in the area,” Sanders said. “We take pride in the coverage we have that no one else can provide. There are many things in the Tribune not available elsewhere, except maybe on social media. But we think we’re still rocking on.”

Circulation is expected to rise, Sanders said. “We’re seeing a lot of growth in Snook, with new homes being built for people who find they easily can commute to jobs at Texas A&M,” he said. 

Preuss Printing Co. owns the Burleson County Tribune and seven other Texas newspapers, including those in Luling (Caldwell County), Bellville (Austin County) and Giddings (Lee County).

The Lockhart Post-Register

In Caldwell County, the Lockhart Post-Register has been read by residents since 1872. Current publisher Dana Garrett bought the newspaper in 1979, at age 24.

He’s seen many changes in the town and the newspaper in recent years, but nothing has affected his staff like the long-lasting pandemic.

“We went from eight staff members to just four when advertising drops hit us pretty bad,” he said. “We acted like we just bought a new paper and started over again with zero based budgeting.”

Single-copy sales at H-E-B, Walmart and other locations dropped by half because many people used curbside pickup or self-service checkout for health safety. The paper’s circulation is about 2,000 now, a decrease of 900 subscribers.

Still, Garrett is convinced the value of the Post-Register will win out. “When people look at our newspaper, they know what’s in there is the truth. If they hear about rumors, they’ll get the paper to see what’s true. Facebook can’t be trusted for that,” he said.

Coverage of Lockhart’s high school sports was tough when reporters and photographers were not allowed into games because of pandemic restrictions. “Coaches got us the information about games because they knew how important that was for the kids and parents,” Garrett said.

Lockhart City Council and Caldwell County Commissioners Court coverage was also difficult when the meetings could only be viewed online. Discussions could not always be heard clearly and reporters were not there to ask questions following the meetings. “That was challenging and required a lot of calling after the meetings to clarify what was said,” Garrett said. Fortunately, some of the meetings now are open for reporters to attend.

The Post-Register is usually 10 pages each week, with regular special sections for events such as the annual Chisholm Trail Roundup festival and the Diez y Seis celebration every September. The newspaper is printed in Bryan.

“I think community newspapers will come back just like movie theaters have done in recent years,” Garrett said. “The theaters rebranded themselves with more comfortable seats and beer and such. Now, community newspapers are looking at how they can change for the better to keep up with the times.”

The Elgin Courier

At the 131-year-old Elgin Courier in Bastrop County, Heather Ott has been slowly transitioning to the publisher’s role after serving as general manager for 10 years. Her first job was as a receptionist in the front office before moving into advertising sales. She is a third-generation Courier employee. 

Two full-time reporters and a “whole bunch” of freelance writers and photographers fill the paper each Wednesday, Ott said. Stories are updated online as needed. The newspaper has 2,300 subscribers.

An annual “Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards” special section last spring showed how grateful Elgin residents were in difficult times. More than 17,000 votes were cast for favorite local businesses and owners, four times more than in previous years.

Once a month, special sections focus on town events and professions including medical services, high school graduation and the annual Western Days festival.

A long wrap-up article about life during a full year of the pandemic in Bastrop County ran on the front page in March. An updated list of county coronavirus case numbers and vaccine availability was printed weekly until recently.

In addition to paid subscriptions, the Courier sends 400 copies of the paper to local public schools for the Newspapers in Education program.

“People say newspapers are dead, but I say that’s wrong,” Ott said. “Our community is what keeps us alive and kicking. I’m happy to say a lot of people around town love us and look to us for events and news.”

The Giddings Times & News 

The Giddings Times & News is a long-lived publication in Lee County, first published in 1888. It is part of a family-owned and operated group of seven weekly newspapers under the Preuss Printing Co. banner.

Sloan Preuss is managing editor in Giddings and one of the sons of company founder and Times & News publisher Buddy Preuss, who has been writing two columns for the Giddings paper for more than 50 years.

“One is the Viewpoint column about people and events of interest, and the other is a religious column called Solid Ground, about teachings in the Bible,” Sloan Preuss said. 

In his Viewpoint of June 17, Buddy Preuss described a fast-moving thunderstorm that lifted a storage building off its foundation at Wilbert’s Tire Center in Giddings.

In the same column he wrote about mushrooms, which “I’ve grown to really like eating as part of a meal. . . . One thing I didn’t know is that mushrooms make good fertilizer for gardens. I recently learned that from a friend and loyal reader.”

That June issue of the Giddings Times & News, which has a circulation of 5,200, featured seven front page stories, including one about a favorable Lee County government audit, another about the Lee County 4-H healthy lifestyles team winning a state competition and one about the new superintendent for the Dime Box Independent School District. The 12-page issue concluded with photos from the Dime Box High School graduation ceremony.

Sloan Preuss said Giddings has changed a lot since he started at the newspaper in 1995. “We’ve seen it go from a small, quiet town to one with more chain stores and businesses” along two busy highways, U.S. 290 and U.S. 77.

“Travelers stop and enjoy our town with more places to eat and shop now.” There’s a shortage of houses for sale in town, he said, but new houses are being built and subdivisions are planned.

Subscriptions to the newspaper did not change much during the pandemic, Sloan Preuss said. Many stores in Giddings managed to stay open. The Lee County Fair was canceled in 2020 and again this year due to the pandemic, and that affected advertising sales. Good news: The annual event is expected to return in 2022.

The Lexington Leader

While several newspapers in the Bluebonnet region were founded well over 100 years ago, the Lexington Leader is relatively new. The Leader started in 1997 under publisher Rita Owen. In 2015, Owen retired and Cindy Terrell bought the newspaper.

“I had been a community education teacher but was always interested in newspapers,” Terrell said. “I remember as a kid hearing the phrase ‘sensational news sells’ and being intrigued by that.”

Terrell, now publisher and editor, is the only full-time employee at the weekly. She has five part-timers who work in advertising sales and production. The paper counts 1,000 paid subscribers, 300 of whom read the electronic version.

Two Leader columnists who captivate readers, Terrell said, are Stanley Miller, who writes about historic events and people, and Peggy Brown, who writes humorously about politics and other subjects.

Dozens of color photos, particularly of high school sports events, are common in the Leader. “You do what kids want and are used to. That’s color,” Terrell said.

The Leader went big and bold covering the crippling ice and snowstorm in February of this year. Under the headline ‘PICTURES=1,000 WORDS,’ a half-page photo showed a lone pickup driving through a whiteout in the middle of town. The caption said the image looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, as if the Earth had entered an ice age, adding that the photo was “the view from in front of Peterson’s grocery store.”

The Fayette County Record 

The Fayette County Record been owned by publisher Regina Barton Keilers and her family since 1976.

In addition to the twice-weekly paper, “we also connect with readers via printed glossy monthly specialty magazines, our website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,” managing editor Jeff Wick said. The newspaper has 5,278 subscribers (693 of whom read the digital edition), Wick said, and a free copy of the newspaper is mailed monthly to every mailbox in Fayette County as an enticement for others to subscribe.

The Record aggressively covered the record-breaking winter storm that hit Texas in February, with four stories and two large photos on the front page of the usual 12- page edition. Inside that issue of March 2, 2021, the paper featured a full-page Black History Month story describing Fayette County’s first two freedom colonies. Also in the issue were columns from correspondents in the small Fayette County towns of Muldoon and Carmine, as well as school and sports news, and obituaries.

Advertising ranged from a full page of classified ads to display ads on the news pages for a photography studio, a wedding shop and a mattress store. Small ads for a wide variety of businesses filled about two pages.

Other Bluebonnet-area community newspapers

• Belville Time
• Columbus Banner Press
• Luling Newsboy & Signal
• Manor Journal/Community News
• New Ulm Enterprise
• Sealy News
• San Marcos Daily Record

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