Names are handy words. They help us talk about specific things. If there were no names, we couldn’t just say “Fido.” We might say, “the furry thing on four feet, bone in its mouth, wagging tail.” That would get old quick! It’d be a little like picking up awkward objects without any handles! But names don’t always make things easier. Sometimes they cause disputes—about everything from huge national landmarks to tiny onions!
Did you know names can have owners? Some people at Yosemite National Park know it all too well. It’s becoming a pain in the neck! A private company runs Yosemite’s lodges and restaurants. They claim to own names like “Ahwahnee Hotel” and “Curry Village.” People think of these places as part of the park itself. If the names changed, Yosemite just wouldn’t seem like Yosemite anymore! But the company won’t let Yosemite keep the names of the places. They’re charging $51 million, just for the names! Park officials say that isn’t fair. They say the names belong to the American people.
An American lake is causing another disagreement. Is it Buggs Island Lake or Kerr Lake? Virginians and North Carolinians have disagreed for 63 years! The lake sits on the border between the two states. Virginians have always called it Buggs Island Lake. North Carolinians call it Kerr (said Kar) Lake. The debate confuses tourists. Which lake are they visiting, anyway? The two sides may soon agree to keep the name as Kerr. They don’t want people thinking their lake is full of bugs! Besides, it’s been 63 years. Most people have forgotten what the fight was all about!
Right now, onions are something to cry about . . . especially for farmers in Georgia. The Vidalia onion is the state vegetable. It’s sweet. You’re supposed to be able to eat it like an apple. The state owns the name Vidalia. That means they can make rules about how the onions are sold. The state wanted to make sure all Vidalia onions taste right. So they made a rule. Vidalia onions must be shipped no earlier than late April. That way immature onions won’t make it to the market. Onion grower Delbert Bland disagrees with the rule. He wants to pack his onions when he thinks they’re ready. A judge struck down the rule. But the state has millions of dollars at stake. You can bet they will be apeeling the case!
