MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Albritton, Butler (38th), Hewes, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (32nd), Lee (47th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THE FRIENDS OF BOLEY CREEK FOUNDATION IN PICAYUNE, MISSISSIPPI, FOR RECEIVING THE "2010 MISSISSIPPI WILDLIFE FEDERATION SOIL, AIR AND WATER CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD."
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation (MWF) hosted the 52nd Mississippi Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet to recognize and honor those whose achievements in natural resource conservation deserve statewide recognition; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation's Conservation Achievement Awards are among the most prestigious for conservation efforts. They are presented annually on behalf of Mississippi Wildlife Federation's members and supporters and its statewide network of affiliated organizations; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 Conservation Achievement Awards winners included Friends of Boley, Soil, Air and Water Conservationist of the Year; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation was established in 1946 to advance the protection of wildlife in Mississippi, working in a multitude of areas to conserve Mississippi's natural resources and protect our wildlife legacy; and
WHEREAS, Friends of Boley (FOB) founders were honored to be nominated and awarded as the Soil, Air and Water Conservationist of the Year. The award, sponsored by Southern AgCredit, is presented for outstanding efforts toward improvement of air quality, water quality or soil conservation in the state. Derek Turnage, Mark Stockstill and John Huck accepted the award at the Mississippi Wildlife Federation's 52nd Mississippi Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet; and
WHEREAS, the Friends of Boley (FOB) formed in Picayune, Mississippi, by a group of concerned citizens is a grassroots movement to cleanup, restore and preserve one of the community's best and underutilized natural resource, the Hobolochitto Creek or as it is known to locals, Boley Creek. It is the organizations desire to educate the public concerning the unused recreation aspects of the creek and develop the creek and the surrounding area into a source of recreation that can be utilized by the citizens of Pearl River County. To accomplish this task, the group seeks to partner with county and city government, local civic groups, and the citizens of Pearl River County; and
WHEREAS, Boley Creek is open to the public and recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, hiking and canoeing are allowed. Organizers are gearing up to recruit volunteers who are interested in helping to cleanup Hobolochitto Creek. While the general public has the right to travel up and down the creek in the water and fish from boats floating in the creek, the land on the sides of the creek are mostly in private ownership. Newly established Friends of Boley members are considering expanding their cleanup efforts either north or south along Hobolochitto Creek; and
WHEREAS, the ultimate goal of the organization is to build trails and other attractions along the creek that would allow residents to enjoy the creek, and hopefully prompt people to think twice before tossing trash out on the roads and in the waterways; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge the efforts of these Mississippi citizens whose soil conservation programs are a model for the State of Mississippi and bring honor to their community:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and congratulate the Friends of Boley Creek Foundation in Picayune, Mississippi, for receiving the "2010 Mississippi Wildlife Federation Soil, Air and Water Conservationist of the Year Award" and we extend our best wishes to these recipients for their future conservation activities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Derek Turnage, Mark Stockstill and John Huck for the Friends of Boley Creek, forwarded to the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.