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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Shelby County Day is being celebrated at the State |
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Capitol on March 31, 2011, and this occasion provides a fine |
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opportunity to pay tribute to this unique region of the Lone Star |
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State; and |
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WHEREAS, Located alongside the Toledo Bend Reservoir on the |
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Sabine River, the territory that now makes up Shelby County has |
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drawn people for thousands of years; the Caddo were the chief |
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inhabitants of the region by the time Spanish and French explorers |
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arrived, and the first non-Native American settlers established |
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farms in the late 1810s; and |
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WHEREAS, The area was organized as Tenehaw Municipality in |
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1835, when Texas was still a part of Mexico, but it was renamed as |
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Shelby County when it became one of the original counties of the |
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Republic of Texas in 1836; its name was a tribute to Isaac Shelby, a |
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hero of the American Revolution; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout the county's history, agriculture and |
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livestock have been mainstays of the local economy; the ample |
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forests of the area are another major asset, supporting jobs in |
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lumber processing and wood-product manufacturing and also drawing |
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tourists; the Sabine National Forest is a favorite destination for |
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outdoor recreation, as is Toledo Bend Reservoir, a quality spot for |
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boating and fishing; and |
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WHEREAS, Center, the largest town, has been the county seat |
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since 1866; it is home to the Shelby County Museum and the former |
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Shelby County Courthouse, a castle-like structure constructed in |
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1885 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and |
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WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy a variety of |
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special events that dot the county's annual calendar, including the |
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Center Fly-In, which is held in May, the Shelby County Sheriff's |
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Posse PRCA Rodeo in June, the What-A-Melon Festival in July, and the |
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East Texas Poultry Festival in October; thanks to its year-round |
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charm and diverse amenities, Shelby County is now also a certified |
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retirement community; and |
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WHEREAS, The city of Center was the recipient of a GO TEXAN |
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Hardworking Rural Community award in 2010 from the Texas Department |
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of Agriculture, recognizing Center, and Shelby County, for their |
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achievements in rural tourism, job creation, leadership |
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opportunities, community improvements, and overall economic |
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development; winners of the award benefit from added statewide |
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publicity and receive grants for future projects; and |
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WHEREAS, From the time of its establishment 175 years ago, |
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Shelby County has contributed to the rich and meaningful saga of the |
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Lone Star State, and its citizens can be proud to claim allegiance |
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to this scenic part of East Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2011, as Shelby County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best |
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wishes for the future. |