The Long County Library hosted another Outdoor Story Time event on Wednesday, July 13. This time, the guest reader was WTOC meteorologist Jamie Ertle, who read a story about weather to the kids in attendance and also showcased her Storm Center van.

This wasn’t the first year Ertle has participated at the library. Library manager Tammy Goober said she has asked Ertle over the last two summers to come out and read, and each time, she has always delightfully agreed.

“I see the kids and they’re excited,” Ertle said. “They have questions about the weather because you can’t touch weather unless it’s raining or snowing, but they see the Storm Chaser and they get excited.”

Ertle read “Freddy the Frogcaster” by Janice Dean, a story about a frog named Freddy who loves learning about the weather and is known for making predictions about it. But when Freddy discovers that a storm is about to cancel the town picnic, it catches him by surprise.

Ertle also had high praise for Goober’s efforts to get kids to the library, and she especially appreciates all she’s doing for the community.

“I just love her enthusiasm and her effort to get kids reading for the summer,” Ertle said. “I see all the things that she’s doing on Instagram and Facebook, and it’s very exciting.”

In addition to the story, the kids were also treated to a tour of Ertle’s Storm Chaser van. They had the opportunity to see the van inside and out, with all of the technology Ertle employs when making her forecasts, including a thermometer, a barometer and an anemometer, which measures wind speed and direction.

The library will host its final Outdoor Story Time event for the summer today, where kids will meet representatives from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.