SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 5

(By Senators Beach, Plymale, Williams, Stollings, Prezioso and D. Hall)

Celebrating the achievements and contributions of Monongalia County and its citizens to the great State of West Virginia.

            Whereas, Monongalia County was founded in 1776 after being settled by a small group of people along the banks of Decker's Creek, and has grown to a present-day population of approximately one hundred thousand people and growing daily; and

            Whereas, Monongalia County is home to West Virginia University, a public land-grant institution, founded in 1867 and recognized as a top research university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. WVU welcomes and shapes the minds of students from across the State of West Virginia, every state in the United States and approximately one hundred other nations; and

            Whereas, Monongalia County offers to its citizens and visitors from around the world everything from a beautiful view from Cooper's Rock to a bicycle ride on the Caperton Trail, the best in medical care and hospitality and soon is to offer professional baseball with the West Virginia Blackbears; and

            Whereas, Monongalia County offers top-rated educational experiences at all levels from preschool to graduate programs and senior education opportunities; a competitive and innovative business community; a diversified economy that embraces health care, education, technology, energy development and small business entrepreneurship; and a nationally acclaimed economic model; and

            Whereas, Monongalia County has become known as a place that offers big-city amenities with the neighborly feel of small-town life; and

            Whereas, Monongalia County has been recognized in recent years in the following ways: “Best Performing Small Metros” (Milken Institute), “Best Small Metros for Business and Careers” (Forbes), “Best Quality of Life and Knowledge Worker Metros” (Expansion Manage.), “Boom Towns” (Inc.), “10 Great Places to Live” (Kiplinger's), “Boom Town” (Inc.), “Top 100 Leading Business Locations” (Area Development Magazine), “Best College Destination” (Best College Reviews), “Top College Destination” (American Institute for Economic Research), “Best Places to Retire for under $100 a Day” (AARP), “Most Secure Small Cities” (Farmer's Insurance), “Adventure Town” (National Geographic Adventure Magazine), “Best Small Towns to Live” (Men's Journal) and “Best Sports Cities” (Sporting News); and

            Whereas, In Monongalia County one can find in the community everything from baseball to art galleries, from energy to health care, from government leaders to our caring nonprofits, from tourism to education, in the scenic mountain home of West Virginia University and everywhere in-between, we affirm that every day is a great day to be a Mountaineer; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate:

            That this Senate hereby acknowledges January 15, 2015, as a day to celebrate and acknowledge the vibrancy and contributions made to our state and nation by the people, past and present, of Monongalia County, West Virginia; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk is directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives from Monongalia County.