A12 East Oregonian PEANUTS COFFEE BREAK Tuesday, January 5, 2021 DEAR ABBY BY CHARLES M . SCHULZ Parents clash over who should discipline their three children FOR BETTER OR WORSE BY LYNN JOHNSTON B.C. BY JOHNNY HART PICKLES BY BRIAN CRANE BEETLE BAILEY BY MORT WALKER Dear Abby: I am a single father part of a close-knit friend group, but my boyfriend is on the intro- of three wonderful kids. When my verted side. Although he is sweet wife and I separated, we agreed to and thoughtful, he doesn’t have 50/50 custody and a property settle- ment. Everything went smoothly. many friends of his own, and he A year later, I requested, and was tends to enjoy independent hobbies. Since learning that my friend- granted, full custody of my chil- ships are very important to me, he dren. Their mom has visitation, but has made a huge effort with my that’s it. J eanne friends and their boyfriends. In Shortly after my separation, P hilliPs the past, he invited them to mov- ADVICE I met a woman and we became ies, reached out and attempted to good friends. I waited about a year engage them in multiple ways. before introducing her to my chil- dren because I wanted to make sure I knew I have watched from a distance, hop- ing they could forge a connection, but they her first. ignore or avoid him, and he recently shared Although we are not “officially” in a rela- tionship, she has been more than willing to his worry that they don’t like him. I don’t blame him for thinking that, and I’m start- step in and help with the children. In a few ing to feel sad for him and frustrated with instances, she has disciplined them because my friends. At what point do I talk to them of bad behaviors. It usually entails talking about this? Should I just let the relationships to them about what they did wrong and happen organically (if they happen)? Should some sort of consequence — loss of toys or I interfere at all? — Torn in Texas privileges. Dear Torn: You didn’t mention how old When they went to visit their mother and you are, or how long you and your boyfriend she heard about it, she wasn’t happy. She have been involved. I do not think it would called me very upset saying my friend had be interfering to ask your friends why no right to discipline our kids. I see noth- ing wrong with it, but I am second-guess- they seem unwilling to accept him. Their answers might be enlightening. ing myself. Some advice, please? — Con- At some ages, circles have formed and cerned Dad in California it’s difficult to break in and gain acceptance. Dear Concerned Dad: If your lady If there is something about your boyfriend friend’s “discipline” ever went further than that makes them uncomfortable, it would a talking-to, then their mother is right. be better if you knew what it was. However, Because you have primary custody of the ultimately, he should socialize with you and children, you should be the parent who lev- ies penalties if they misbehave and a pun- these friends at his comfort level. You may ishment is warranted. also need to seek out new friends and culti- vate relationships together as a couple. Dear Abby: I’m a very social person and DAYS GONE BY GARFIELD BLONDIE DILBERT BY JIM DAVIS BY DEAN YOUNG AND STAN DRAKE 100 Years Ago From the East Oregonian Jan. 5, 1921 Dr. F. A. Lieuallen and Perry L. Idle- man, local members of the state hospitaliza- tion committee of the American Legion, left for Walla Walla this noon in response to a request that they meet Washington officials of the legion and army officers in an inspec- tion of the old Fort Walla Walla barracks as a possible hospital site for wounded men of the world war needing hospital treatment. Washington legion officials have been on a tour of the state looking after men needing hospital treatment and looking into the facil- ities provided former service men receiving vocational training at the various institu- tions in the state. The hospital proposition at Walla Walla is understood to be for all men of the northwest country. 50 Years Ago From the East Oregonian Jan. 5, 1971 Sheriff’s deputies armed with shot- guns stood guard in the cellblocks today as cleanup started after last night’s riot in the Umatilla County Jail on the third floor of the courthouse. The riot raged for almost three hours. Toilets were torn from the floor and broken into jagged pieces, the chunks hurled through windows. Piles of books and maga- zines and other items were set afire and the jail quickly filled with smoke. No deputies or prisoners were injured, but damages will likely run well into four figures. The inci- dent points up a need Sheriff Roy Johnson has spoken about for years — a need for a jail that can handle troublesome prison- ers. “We get men here as tough as any in the penitentiary,” he said. He indicated the entire design of the jail should be reexam- ined. Some deputies have complained their lives are endangered because of the anti- quated design of the jail. 25 Years Ago From the East Oregonian Jan. 5, 1996 The Umatilla County Commission- ers have withheld their blessing on a Mil- ton-Freewater strip club’s liquor license application, although they admit that they may not stop the Highway 11 club north of town from opening or serving alcohol. “It’s our way of sending the message we do not approve,” said Commissioner Glenn Young- man. “If we feel the majority of our commu- nity is not going to approve of it, we’re not going to approve of it.” Little Darlin’s, a pro- posed adult tavern, would be housed in the former Angus Roadhouse restaurant build- ing. Next door is the Junior Show Grounds, the site of many 4-H, FFA and other youth activities. But when the commissioners turned to the county’s zoning ordinances for a way to prevent the strip club from open- ing, they came up empty. As the local gov- ernment entity in the unincorporated areas of the county, the commission has a nominal say in who is awarded liquor licenses in its jurisdiction, but the Oregon Liquor Control Commission can issue a license in spite of local objections. BY SCOTT ADAMS TODAY IN HISTORY THE WIZARD OF ID LUANN ZITS BY BRANT PARKER AND JOHNNY HART BY GREG EVANS BY JERRY SCOTT AND JIM BORGMAN On Jan. 5, 1925, Dem- ocrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America’s first female gov- ernor, succeeding her late husband, William, following a special election. In 1914, auto industrial- ist Henry Ford announced he was going to pay work- ers $5 for an 8-hour day, as opposed to $2.34 for a 9-hour day. (Employees still worked six days a week; the 5-day work week was insti- tuted in 1926.) In 1943, educator and scientist George Washing- ton Carver, who was born into slavery, died in Tuske- gee, Alabama, at about age 80. In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower pro- posed assistance to coun- tries to help them resist Communist aggression in what became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine. In 1972, President Rich- ard Nixon announced that he had ordered development of the space shuttle. In 1975, “The Wiz,” a musical version of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” featuring an all-Black cast, opened on Broadway. In 1998, Sonny Bono, the 1960s pop star-turned-pol- itician, was killed when he struck a tree while skiing at the Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nevada-California state line; he was 62. In 2004, foreigners arriv- ing at U.S. airports were photographed and had their fingerprints scanned in the start of a government effort to keep terrorists out of the country. Today’s Birthdays: Actor-director Diane Keaton is 75. Rock musician Chris Stein (Blondie) is 71. Singer Iris Dement is 60. Rock musician Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson) is 55. PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN BY DANA SIMPSON BIG NATE BY LINCOLN PEIRCE