B6
East Oregonian
PEANUTS
COFFEE BREAK
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
DEAR ABBY
BY CHARLES M . SCHULZ
Intensity of grandson’s devotion
to video games is worrisome
FOR BETTER OR WORSE
BY LYNN JOHNSTON
B.C.
BY JOHNNY HART
PICKLES
BY BRIAN CRANE
BEETLE BAILEY
BY MORT WALKER
GARFIELD
BLONDIE
BY JIM DAVIS
BY DEAN YOUNG AND STAN DRAKE
Dear Abby: I have a concern as
which she cannot mow with her
a grandmother about our youngest
tractor. She asked us to mow that
grandchild, age 10. He is addicted
area with our push mower because
to video games. There has been
she doesn’t have one, so for the past
quite a lot of publicity on how bad
15 years, we have. It takes only 10
this can be for children.
minutes, so we really don’t mind at
all.
When we visit, he never comes
Last Friday, I was running late
to greet us or even to talk to us.
to go out of town. I didn’t spend
Once when we were getting ready
J eanne
as much time as usual on the yard,
to go out to dinner, he was scream-
P hilliPs
ing at his mom and stomping his
and I received this text from her:
ADVICE
“Good evening. I really appreci-
feet so hard that the ceiling light
ate that you and (your husband)
was shaking.
keep the strip between our houses
We love our daughter-in-law
mowed, but I just paid $400 to get my
very much, but we feel she wants to be
driveway power washed. That’s a lot of
her kids’ “friend” and not a mom. She’s a
money to get it all moldy again so quickly,
teacher and is well-educated. Our son, who
so can one of you please come and sweep
is also well-educated, does none of the dis-
off the driveway before the rain starts fall-
ciplining as far as we can see. We can’t fig-
ing tomorrow?” My husband went and
ure it out.
spent the 60 seconds it took to sweep it, but
This grandson is only 10 now, but it
I don’t know how to reply to her text. Any
won’t be long until he’s 13. I am afraid he
thoughts would be greatly appreciated. —
will get violent with his mom or even hurt
Mowed Down in the East
himself. Should we mind our own business
Dear Mowed Down: Is your neighbor so
and just look away? We have never inter-
fered in our children’s business. — Wor-
infirm or aged that she is physically unable
ried Grandparent in the South
to sweep her driveway? If the answer is yes,
Dear Worried: A 10-year-old child hav-
then let it ride. If the answer is no, text her
back and offer to buy her a broom.
ing a full-blown tantrum (which is what
Dear Abby: If I have several guests sit-
you describe) is not normal. He should
ting around chatting, and they start getting
have learned to regulate his emotions by
loud discussing politics or religion, would it
now. There may be things going on with
be rude for me to say, “No discussing pol-
your grandson that you’re not aware of. I do
itics or religion”? Some friends become
think you should mention to your son and
very loud. I guess they think if they yell,
daughter-in-law that you are concerned and
people will abide by what they have to say.
why.
— Mediating in Texas
Dear Abby: We have lived next door to
Dear Mediating: It would not be rude
a woman with a short temper for 20 years.
to say, “Hey, folks, this is getting heated, so
Our driveways are extremely long. Hers has
let’s change the subject. Now.”
a big slope on the side closer to our home,
DAYS GONE BY
100 Years Ago
From the East Oregonian
July 9, 1919
The cities of Milton and Freewater are
both preparing to pave the streets over
which the highway traffic between Pendle-
ton and Walla Walla must pass, according to
B. Breithaupt, engineer, who is in Pendleton
today. Mr. Breithaupt has been engaged by
the two communities to furnish them with
data and estimates to be used in starting the
paving work. Paving on the road beyond
Freewater is progressing from the edge of
the city and also from the state line toward
Freewater, Mr. Breithaupt said. The twin
cities hope to have their sections connect
up by the time the state and county work
has been completed, making an unbroken
stretch of paved road to the state line.
50 Years Ago
From the East Oregonian
July 9, 1969
A bottle filled with gasoline was thrown
in a garbage can and set afire Monday near
the Seventh-day Adventist School on SW
Frazer in Pendleton. A neighbor, fearing
the blaze would set the school on fire, called
firemen. He threw dirt on the fire and had
it nearly extinguished by the time firemen
arrived. One truck and two men were sent
to the scene at 6:51 p.m. Monday.
25 Years Ago
From the East Oregonian
July 9, 1994
It remains to be seen whether Morrow
County will be split into two health care
districts or if a compromise can be reached
to create a county-wide district. No clear-
cut proposal was reached at a hearing in
Lexington this week. But the recommen-
dations of an ad hoc committee appointed
by Morrow County Judge Louis Carlson
points toward a compromise. However, a
proposal to create a county-wide district
could be “dead in the water” if there are
any appeals or if the county’s five cities fail
to unanimously endorse such a proposal,
Carlson said.
TODAY IN HISTORY
DILBERT
THE WIZARD OF ID
LUANN
ZITS
BY SCOTT ADAMS
BY BRANT PARKER AND JOHNNY HART
BY GREG EVANS
BY JERRY SCOTT AND JIM BORGMAN
On July 9, 1850, the
12th president of the United
States, Zachary Taylor, died
after serving only 16 months
of his term. (He was suc-
ceeded by Millard Fillmore.)
In 1755, British Gen-
eral Edward Braddock was
mortally wounded as his
troops suffered a massive
defeat during the French and
Indian War (he died four
days later).
In 1776, the Declaration
of Independence was read
aloud to Gen. George Wash-
ington’s troops in New York.
In 1816, Argentina
declared independence from
Spain.
In 1918, 101 people were
killed in a train collision in
Nashville, Tennessee. The
Distinguished Service Cross
was established by an Act of
Congress.
In 1937, a fire at 20th
Century Fox’s film storage
facility in Little Ferry, New
Jersey, destroyed most of the
studio’s silent films.
In 1947, the engagement
of Britain’s Princess Eliza-
beth to Lt. Philip Mountbat-
ten was announced.
In 1962, pop artist Andy
Warhol’s exhibit of 32 paint-
ings of Campbell’s soup
cans opened at the Ferus
Gallery in Los Angeles.
In 1974, former U.S.
Chief Justice Earl Warren
died in Washington at age
83.
In 1982, Pan Am Flight
759, a Boeing 727, crashed
in
Kenner,
Louisiana,
shortly after takeoff from
New Orleans International
Airport, killing all 145 peo-
ple aboard and eight people
on the ground.
In 1992, Democrat Bill
Clinton tapped Tennessee
Sen. Al Gore to be his run-
ning mate. Former CBS
News commentator Eric
Sevareid died in Washing-
ton at age 79.
In 1995, Jerry Garcia
performed for the final time
as frontman of the Grate-
ful Dead during a concert
at Chicago’s Soldier Field
(Garcia died a month later).
In 2001, a divided court
in Chile ruled that Gen.
Augusto Pinochet could not
be tried on human rights
charges because of his dete-
riorating health and men-
tal condition, a ruling that
effectively brought the
85-year-old former dicta-
tor’s legal troubles to an end.
Today’s
Birthdays:
Actor-singer Ed Ames is
92. Actor Brian Dennehy is
81. Author Dean Koontz is
74. Actor Tom Hanks is 63.
Singer Marc Almond is 62.
Actress-rock singer Court-
ney Love is 55. Musician/
producer Jack White is 44.
Rock musician Dan Estrin
(Hoobastank) is 43. Actor-di-
rector Fred Savage is 43.
Thought for Today: “If
writers were good business
men, they’d have too much
sense to be writers.” — Irvin
S. Cobb, American humorist
(1876-1944).
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
BY DANA SIMPSON
BIG NATE
BY LINCOLN PEIRCE