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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Bee County are gathering at the |
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State Capitol to celebrate Bee County Day on February 14, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Artifacts indicate that the region was originally |
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inhabited 6,000 to 10,000 years ago; the first permanent European |
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settlers arrived in the early 19th century, and 11 area landowners |
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were among the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Bee County was officially organized on January 25, |
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1858, and named for Barnard E. Bee Sr., a South Carolina attorney, |
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soldier, and statesman who joined the Army of the Republic of Texas |
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and later served as secretary of war under Sam Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the South Texas Plains vegetation region, |
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the county covers 866 square miles that slope gently toward the Gulf |
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Coast; with the region's open expanses of grasslands, its economy |
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is dominated by farming and ranching along with oil and gas |
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operations and agribusiness; Beeville is the county seat, and other |
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towns in the county include Skidmore, Blue Berry Hill, Pettus, |
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Tuleta, Tynan, Pawnee, Normanna, and Mineral; and |
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WHEREAS, Bee County is blessed with an array of cultural and |
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historical attractions for residents and visitors to explore; |
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Beeville has successfully revitalized its downtown district and has |
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been named a Texas Main Street City by the Texas Historical |
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Commission; Coastal Bend College--Beeville offers occupational as |
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well as academic classes for its students, and it has the oldest |
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academic educational glassblowing facility in the state; art |
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enthusiasts may delight in the exhibits of the Beeville Art Museum, |
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which is funded by the Joe Barnhart Foundation and housed in the |
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historic Esther Barnhart House; in addition, visitors come from all |
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across Texas to celebrate the state's rich traditions at Western |
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Week, one of the county's largest and longest-running festivals; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Bee County may indeed take great |
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pride in their vibrant heritage as they work together to build an |
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even brighter future, and this special day provides a welcome |
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opportunity to pay tribute to the county and its people; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 14, 2017, as Bee County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to those visiting today sincere best |
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wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin. |