A street by any other name…

For the last several weeks, one of the hot-button topics in McMinnville has been what to do to honor Jamie ?Cat? Walker.

As you?ve read on page 1 of today?s edition, a special celebration is scheduled for Dec. 19, at which time Walker will be applauded for his pro baseball accomplishments, and particularly with the role he played in giving the Detroit Tigers the opportunity to succeed.

A grand ceremony is scheduled, which very likely will include naming a baseball field after the longtime big-leaguer and soon-to-be local hall of famer.

But as you also read in the front-page story, there was some discussion about naming a street within the city after Jamie. But the kibosh was put on that idea, because, according to the report, ?there is already a Walker Street. Adding a Cat Walker Street might produce confusion for emergency service workers. Leaving off ?Walker? would mean some McMinnville residents would live on Cat Street, an idea that might not appeal to some.?

Personally, I wouldn?t mind living on Cat St. I?m not a big fan of felines, but I don?t think I?d sling a brick through the front window of City Hall if they named my road after Jamie.

But the more important reason behind not changing any street names is the issue of confusion for 911 responders. Apparently there was a fear ? and I can understand the logic behind that fear ? that fire or medical personnel called to ?Walker St.? might accidentally end up on ?Cat Walker St.? and tragedy could ensue.

Following that logic, however, several of you fine readers could very soon be changing the stickers on your mailboxes, or ordering new return address labels.

Taking a look at the handy map located above Duane Sherrill?s desk, I found several examples of street names inside the city limits that would seem as confusing, if not more confusing, than the difference between ?Walker St.? and, for example, ?Cat Walker St.?

If you?re in the Faulkner Springs area, for instance, you might find yourself on Willow Way.

But wait. Are you sure you?re not on Willow Run? No, you?re not, because that street is in the Bybee Branch area of town, near Pioneer Community Church.

In Mt. Leo, you might be on Pike Lane. And at the same time, I can be on Pike St., which is just north of the fairgrounds. Of course, most people call the latter of those two ?Pike Hill Road,? so there?s even more confusion.

Anybody live on King St.? How about Kings Pointe Lane, or Kings Ridge Drive? Do you know anyone who resides on Hickory Blvd., Hickory Court or Hickory Lane? How about Summer Lane? What about Summer Street?

And while we?re at it, how many ?Westwood Drives? and ?Rolling Hills? are there?

For many of us, things like street names never come up in our day-to-day lives. And yes, it is crucial for emergency services to know exactly where they?re headed when they?re called. But the decision not to name one small street, somewhere in this town, after Jamie Walker is illogical at best, and ? considering the examples I found on one quick scan of the map ? hypocritical at worst.

That is, of course, unless the city has plans to change a whole lot of other street names very quickly.