County continues foster care fight

Seven local residents recently joined the growing ranks of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Bastrop County (CASA) and its mission to support and guide children in need.

Judge Benton Eskew swore in the CASA volunteers at the Bastrop County Courthouse Nov. 18. The appointees will serve area children and families as they navigate the foster care system.

“It is a long-term commitment and requires a lot of heart, but there just isn’t another volunteer experience that matches what you’ll get with CASA,” Executive Director Kristi Bauer said in a statement. Inductees include Judit Castillo, Bill Laubenberg and Morgan Heine of Elgin, and Jim Barringer, Gage Counts, Johana Cardenas and Howard Griffith of Bastrop. They were joined by Alma Villareal of Flatonia.