18 | 17 | | PROMOTION. |
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19 | 18 | | WHEREAS, the Alabama Scenic River Trail was |
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20 | 19 | | established in 2008 and subsequently designated as a |
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21 | 20 | | National Recreational Trail by the United States Secretary |
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22 | 21 | | of the Interior in 2009, and as a National Water Trail in |
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23 | 22 | | 2012; and |
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24 | 23 | | WHEREAS, the Alabama Scenic River Trail initially |
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25 | 24 | | extended for 630 miles, then 650 miles, and has since |
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26 | 25 | | expanded the organization's oversight and advocacy efforts |
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27 | 26 | | to encompass more than 6,000 miles of Alabama's rivers, |
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28 | 27 | | lakes, streams, and creeks; and |
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29 | 28 | | WHEREAS, in 2024, the Alabama Scenic River Trail, as |
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30 | 29 | | the State of Alabama's official paddling resource, partnered |
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31 | 30 | | with more than 70 canoe and kayak rental shops and |
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32 | 31 | | outfitters and community organizations, to promote Alabama's |
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33 | 32 | | exceptional natural resources and contribute to the vitality |
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34 | 33 | | of the state's outdoor tourism economy; and |
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35 | 34 | | WHEREAS, the Alabama Scenic River Trail continues to |
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36 | 35 | | foster and expand opportunities for paddling and other |
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37 | 36 | | freshwater recreational experiences throughout Alabama, |
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38 | 37 | | including the execution of community-based programming and |
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39 | 38 | | the installation of safety signage with a goal of making |
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70 | 69 | | Alabama's waterways the safest and most enjoyable in the |
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71 | 70 | | nation; and |
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72 | 71 | | WHEREAS, the Great Alabama 650 was successfully held |
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73 | 72 | | for the sixth consecutive year in 2024, drawing |
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74 | 73 | | international recognition, participation, and enthusiasm for |
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75 | 74 | | the unparalleled paddling experiences available in the State |
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76 | 75 | | of Alabama; and |
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77 | 76 | | WHEREAS, the winners of the 2024 Great Alabama 650 |
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78 | 77 | | displayed exceptional endurance, determination, and skill, |
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79 | 78 | | with Overall and Male Solo Winner Trey Reaves of Florence, |
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80 | 79 | | Alabama, completing the race in 7 days, 3 hours, and 20 |
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81 | 80 | | minutes; Female Solo Winner Ryan Gillikin of Bay Minette, |
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82 | 81 | | Alabama, completing the race in 8 days, 18 hours, and 37 |
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83 | 82 | | minutes; and Tandem Team Winners Jessica Nance of Overland |
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84 | 83 | | Park, Kansas, and Candi Hill of Shawnee, Kansas, finishing |
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85 | 84 | | in 8 days, 22 hours, and 35 minutes; and |
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86 | 85 | | WHEREAS, this body recognizes the perseverance, |
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87 | 86 | | dedication, and extraordinary mental and physical fortitude |
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88 | 87 | | demonstrated by all participants and acknowledges the Great |
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89 | 88 | | Alabama 650 and the Alabama Scenic River Trail's significant |
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90 | 89 | | role in advancing and promoting freshwater recreation in the |
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91 | 90 | | State of Alabama; now therefore, |
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92 | 91 | | BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH |
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93 | 92 | | HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the division winners of the |
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94 | 93 | | 2024 Great Alabama 650 are hereby highly commended for their |
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95 | 94 | | remarkable achievements, and that copies of this resolution |
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96 | 95 | | be provided to the Alabama Scenic River Trail headquarters |
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