H.R. No. 572



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Many proud citizens of Karnes County have traveled 
to Austin on this day, March 24, 2003, in celebration of Karnes 
County Day at the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Once part of a 1758 Spanish land grant, the area 
became the site of the first Polish settlement in America, Panna 
Maria; over the years, an influx of Polish, German, Czech, and 
Mexican immigrants to the region gave Karnes County a richly 
diverse culture, which continues to attract many visitors today; 
and
	WHEREAS, Established as a county by the Texas Legislature on 
February 4, 1854, Karnes County was named for the Texas patriot 
Henry Wax Karnes; Karnes City became the county seat in 1894, and 
other noteworthy towns in the county include Falls City, Runge, 
Panna Maria, Kenedy, and the once notorious frontier community of 
Helena, now a ghost town; and
	WHEREAS, Karnes County combines rural charm with proximity to 
San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi; the area's fertile 
agricultural lands support grain, wild game, and cattle production, 
and the county's many amenities offer a high quality of life for 
local residents; and
	WHEREAS, Outdoor enthusiasts have come to enjoy the wide 
variety of  activities offered in Karnes County, and the area is a 
favorite among fishermen and hunters; and
	WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike look forward to the 
many celebrations hosted in the county throughout the year, 
including the Lonesome Dove Festival, Town and Country Days, the 
Runge Fourth of July Celebration, the Falls City Picnic, Indian 
Summer Fest, Kenedy Bluebonnet Days, and Christmas Along the 
Corridor, and next year promises to be especially memorable as the 
county will be celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2004; and
	WHEREAS, A progressive community with a rich Texas heritage, 
Karnes County continues to play a significant role in the vitality 
of the Lone Star State, and its myriad contributions indeed merit 
special recognition; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize March 24, 2003, as Karnes County Day 
at the State Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to all of its 
citizens on this noteworthy occasion.

                                                                         Canales

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 572 was adopted by the House on March 
24, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House