WHEREAS, In April 1879 the town of Bickleton was founded when the travel-weary leader of a group of pioneers preparing to camp for the night stated, "I'm not going any farther now"; and
     WHEREAS, Bickleton, the central town of Eastern Klickitat County, was first inhabited by Native Americans; and
     WHEREAS, Charles Nathaniel Bickle, for whom the town was named, and the David Ransler family were the first white settlers; and
     WHEREAS, The town is known as "The Bluebird Capital of the Pacific Northwest" and has surrounded itself with one of the finest wheat growing regions in our state; and
     WHEREAS, The town of Cleveland lies four miles west of Bickleton and was founded in 1880-1881, when S. Lowenberg, a Goldendale merchant, established a branch store on the site of the present town on a homestead held by Ripley Dodge who soon opened a hotel and on whose land was built a blacksmith shop, and wheat-growing and stock raising soon became the main industries; and
     WHEREAS, Cleveland's rodeo grounds are the location of the 100 year-old Bickleton Pioneer Picnic and Rodeo to be held again this year on June 11, 12, and 13, to include a rodeo on Saturday and Sunday, cowboy breakfasts, a Saturday night dance, and a 1905 restored Herschell-Spillman carousel, only one of three of its type still in operation; and
     WHEREAS, The Herschell-Spillman carousel's horses are on display the rest of the year in Bickleton's Carousel Museum and brought out for this one weekend to be enjoyed by young and old alike;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize and congratulate the towns of Bickleton and Cleveland on the 100th Anniversary of the Bickleton Pioneer Picnic and Rodeo; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 100-Year Anniversary Resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to The Alder Creek Pioneer Association and to Lou Marzeles, News Editor of The Goldendale Sentinel.