In a column last week, I wrote that Kalispell needed a nickname and asked for your ideas on a proper one. What followed was a history lesson in the origin of the word, some clever ideas, some sad (but equally clever), and a few that could actually work. So here is a sampling of your suggested tag-lines for our fare city, which apparently is, “A Good Place to Die.” Who knew? If you haven’t submitted an idea, and would like to, hurry up and e-mail me before I send these off to the mayor.
“The Golden Orb City” – a reference to the clouds that often hide the sun in the valley
“The Dusty City” – a reference to the unpaved roads
“Kalispell – Ready for Anything!” – a reference to our durability?
“The Pothole Capital” – a reference to – you guessed it – potholes
“Cowlip Spell” – a reference to something I don’t quite understand
“Lung Disorder Capital” – a reference to the inversion that apparently traps smoke and vehicle emissions in the valley and causes lung cancer
“Kalispell – Real Place, Real People” – a reference to the uniqueness of both the land and the working people here
“The home of blood to the elbows of elk slayers” – a reference to hunters and gatherers of the Upper Kalispel Tribe, which inhabited the land until the mid-1800s
“The land of purple-fingered berry pickers” – a reference to the land that has always provided for residents here
“Kalispell – A Good Place to Die” – slightly morbid, but I like it
“KaliSpellbound!” – a reference to the way we hypnotize people
“Kattlesmell” – a reference to cattle and how they smell
“Kalispell – The Last Real Town in the West” – a reference to a town that’s in a beautiful location but is also still home to regular working people
“Kalifornia” – a reference to the newcomers, I think
“Kloudyspell” – a reference to clouds, again
“Cowsbell” – not sure, maybe cows
“Kalicaid” – a reference to welfare recipients, of whom frequent poster Roark claims a high number exist here
“The City Above the Lake” – a reference to the city’s geography and history (this may be what the word actually means)