By Alyssa Dussetschleger
A 4-H Livestock Ambassador who plans to be a policy analyst for agriculture and a budding entrepreneur who hopes to become a real estate agent will head to Washington, D.C., this summer as recipients of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s 2022 Government-in-Action Youth Tour awards.
Stories by Melissa Segrest
An annual whirlwind history lesson that began more than half a century ago for thousands of teenagers from across Texas and the nation is back after a two-year pandemic pause.
This June, the Government-in-Action Youth Tour is returning to Washington, D.C., and hundreds of electric cooperative-funded high school students will swarm the nation’s capital to see historical spots and learn how our democracy works.
Looking for a good day to thank the men and women who build, restore and maintain your — and Bluebonnet’s — power supply system? Try Monday, April 11. That’s National Lineman Appreciation Day, and it’s an opportunity to acknowledge the 24/7 work done by lineworkers to construct, maintain, and restore your power after an outage and to keep the power flowing at all times, even under dangerous conditions and during severe weather.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is raising awareness and providing information about area organizations involved in the prevention of abuse and support of victims.
Keep an eye on our social media channels in April to learn more about how you can get involved, key community events and resources. The cooperative’s member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart and Manor will gleam with blue lights at night to support the awareness effort.
The gusts of wind and rain began late on Friday, Aug. 25. Before it was over, Hurricane Harvey blasted Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s service area with destructive winds and drenching rains. Crews responded to 602 service calls, 396 of which were power outages that affected 12,760 members.
It’s a milestone year for Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. We’re turning 80. The co-op, originally called the Lower Colorado River Electric Cooperative, received its state charter on Aug. 2, 1939. The mission was to provide electricity to rural residents in 10 Central Texas counties (which later grew to include parts of 14 counties). In 1965, the co-op was renamed Bluebonnet.
![An unidentified group poses with a 1924 Ford Model T owned by Urissa Rhone before her marriage. Rhone family papers [di_10766]](/sites/default/files/images/news/Group-with-Ford-Model-T.jpg)
By Denise Gamino
Sometimes, even a chicken coop can be a cradle of history. In 1897, Calvin and Lucia Rhone bought 100 acres in Fayette County. They brought their love letters, financial papers and family photos. They brought their five children and then had four more (another three died at birth). All 12 births were recorded by hand in the big, ornate family Bible.
