SENATE RESOLUTION

                         2001-8606

By Senators Rasmussen, Swecker, McAuliffe, Franklin, Haugen, Eide, Kastama and Spanel

     WHEREAS,  It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize the heroic actions of its residents; and

     WHEREAS, We often take for granted that our children will be safely transported to and from school; and

     WHEREAS, On a recent winter day, a two-ton vehicle collided with a Bethel School District bus carrying twenty-two students; and

     WHEREAS, The bus, driven by ten-year veteran bus driver Cheryl Mooring, caught fire as a result of the crash; and

     WHEREAS, Although her glasses flew off and she was blinded by smoke from the fire, Cheryl Mooring was able to free her leg, which was pinned beneath the dashboard, and lead all of the middle-school students onboard to safety; and

     WHEREAS, For her actions, Cheryl Mooring was hailed by the Washington State Patrol and Bethel School District officials as Aa heroine.@

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate, on behalf of the people of our state, do hereby recognize and acknowledge the outstanding display of heroic actions and commitment to students by Cheryl Mooring; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Cheryl Mooring and the Bethel School District.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2001-8606,

adopted by the Senate January 24, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate