In response to an online inquiry from the Mountain Express, numerous Wood River Valley residents chimed in with their suggestions for the new name of a merged Ketchum and Sun Valley.
Last week, Ketchum City Councilman Charles Conn and Sun Valley City Councilman Dave Chase, as spokesmen for the organization One Community, One Town, proposed bringing the merger idea to the voters of both cities.
According to the pair, forming one entity would save $2 million per year, largely through a reduction in duplication of services.
While city officials from both Ketchum and Sun Valley have asked to see more details on how the saving would be realized, many residents have expressed interest in what the new city would be called if voters do indeed approve the merger.
From Wednesday through Monday, the Mountain Express received 46 suggestions, some serious, some tending toward the lighter side.
By far, the most common reply, with a total of 17 responses, was to retain the name Sun Valley, with most noting that this is the name with international recognition.
Ketchum resident Bill Lehman has a slightly different choice.
"Let's not mess with the positive image of Sun Valley with combination or hybrid names," Lehman wrote. "I would go with the Sun Valley designation for the new city, and identify downtown Ketchum as the 'Old Ketchum Historical District.'"
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Three people recommended going with Ketchum, two with Ketchum-Sun Valley and another two said there should be no change at all, even if the cities are merged.
Other notable suggestions included: North Hailey; Earlstown; Sunny Ketchum Valley; Hemingway; Ketchup; Svetchum; Ketchsun; Paradise City; Ray View; Baldy; Big Valley; Some Valley; Leadville and Wonthappentown.
Perhaps the most humorous entry was for Kvetchin,' similar to the Yiddish word for a chronic complainer.
"My nomination, a derivative of the Yiddish lexicon, is certain to reflect the attitude of most valley denizens, no matter which name is chosen," Ron Rudolph wrote.
The most scholarly entry came from Hailey resident Ashley Burr, who wrote, "My name suggestion for the combination of Ketchum/Sun Valley would be Perihelion. The definition of the word is the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid or comet at which it is closest to the sun. The city's slogan could be 'Come Ketch the Sun.'"
One Community, One Town will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the issue at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum on Thursday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
