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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Panola County are gathering in Austin |
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on February 19, 2013, to celebrate Panola County Day at the State |
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Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in northeastern Texas and forming part of |
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the state's border with Louisiana, Panola County covers more than |
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800 square miles of forests and rolling plains and is traversed by |
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the Sabine River; the area experienced a land rush in the 1830s as |
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settlers arrived from the southern United States; on March 30, |
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1846, the Texas Legislature officially created Panola County, and |
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two years later, voters chose Carthage as the county seat; and |
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WHEREAS, It is believed that Judge John Allison, a prominent |
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civic leader, suggested the name Panola, which may be derived from |
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the Cherokee word for cotton, ponolo; the area's rich soil was well |
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suited to the crop, and cotton became the county's main |
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agricultural product; today, Panola County enjoys a diversified |
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economy, primarily based in oil and gas production, agriculture, |
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food processing, and timber; the lush forests also make the county a |
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popular destination for hiking, birding, and camping enthusiasts, |
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while anglers enjoy the good fishing waters of Martin Creek Lake and |
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Murvaul Lake; and |
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WHEREAS, Home to nearly 50 Texas Historical Commission |
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markers, Panola County was the birthplace of several notable |
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Texans, including Margie Elizabeth Neal, the first woman elected to |
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serve in the Texas Senate, and country music stars Tex Ritter and |
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Jim Reeves; a museum dedicated to Mr. Ritter and a memorial devoted |
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to Mr. Reeves are located in Carthage, as is the Texas Country Music |
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Hall of Fame, which honors the legacies of both of these men, along |
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with other country music legends from the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Carthage, which was named a National Main Street |
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City in Texas in 2011, is also home to the historic Esquire Theater, |
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which plays host to the Country Music Hayride every Saturday night; |
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other popular events taking place in the county seat include the |
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Piney Woods Quilt Festival in April and the East Texas Oil and Gas |
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Blast in October, which features live music, a car show, and arts |
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and crafts; the Footprints in the Sand monument, a poignant |
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religious sculpture, is expected to be completed in the fall of |
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2013; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Panola County have long made an |
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important contribution to the Lone Star State, and it is most |
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fitting that they be honored on this special day; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2013, as Panola County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. |