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Kids name coming storms

Winton Elementary School fourth-graders Kimberly Howard, front, Jordan Prosser, center, and Tanner Barclay play on snow removal equipment after members of their class named the major storms in Coeur d'Alene for the next four years. The city's Street Maintenance Department brought the equipment to the school Wednesday for a show and tell and to present awards. (Photos by Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Meghann M. Cuniff Staff writer
Winton Elementary School fourth-graders Kimberly Howard, front, Jordan Prosser, center, and Tanner Barclay play on snow removal equipment after members of their class named the major storms in Coeur d'Alene for the next four years. The city's Street Maintenance Department brought the equipment to the school Wednesday for a show and tell and to present awards. (Photos by Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

When the first storm rolls through Coeur d’Alene this winter and city officials refer to it as “Arctic Almond Avalanche,” thank 9-year-old Chrysta Orr.

The Winton Elementary School student was one of four who won a contest among Winton fourth-graders to name the city’s storms for the next four winters.

The city’s Street Maintenance Department gives local students a shot at naming winter storms, encouraging them to think of the most creative theme possible and come up with corresponding names that begin with the letters A through N.

Chrysta’s theme is ice cream flavors, so don’t be surprised if it snows more than a few inches and officials declare it the “Breezyberry Blast” storm. That’ll be the name of the second storm to hit the city this winter.

Names proposed by Carly Glessner, Ryan Swallow and Ocean Bowman were also selected. Carly’s names were those of famous explorers. Ryan focused on Idaho cities, and Ocean used Idaho symbols, such as huckleberries and cutthroat trout. Carly’s names will be used next winter, followed by Ryan’s and Ocean’s.

For their efforts, the four students received street signs with their names printed on them.

City Street Superintendent Tim Martin said the city uses the term storm quite liberally as a way of communicating with other city officials and with the public about winter weather conditions.

Two to 3 inches of snow on the ground can be classified as a storm, so the students will hear their storm names often, he said.

Past themes include Harry Potter characters, used to name the storms of the 2000-01 winter.

Martin visited Winton on Wednesday morning along with other city workers to talk about what they do to keep streets clear and safe during winter weather and to let the kids see the snow equipment firsthand.

Several plow trucks and sweepers sat on LaCrosse Avenue in front of the school for the fourth-graders to explore.

Honking the horn seemed to be the most popular activity.

“I betcha the horn’s gonna be dead by the time they leave,” said 8-year-old Jaguar Ashtiani, grinning.