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Newspaper Archive of
The Lone Tree Reporter
Lone Tree, Iowa
January 23, 2003     The Lone Tree Reporter
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January 23, 2003
 
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Page 2 The Lone Tree Reporter, January Opinion/Editorial Iraq? Korea-? Castro? All per- fectly acceptable answers to the question, what will be the next war? But to many Americans there is a war that has been ongo- ing for many, many years. The war to keep their dogs. I've grown up a cat person, I won't lie, but when I met my wife and discovered-to my utmost consternation-that she was one of those dreaded dog people (slobbery drooly drippy- tongued mass-producers of sali- va), she convinced me that we needed a dog. I reluctantly agreed, and she picked out an adorable pup from the pound. Brindle-colored with big chestnut eyes and ears that tipped over in the middle. The Cedar Valley Humane Society in Waterloo (where we lived) informed us that she was a labrador, but she was mixed with Staffordshire ter- rier, also known as the American pit-bull. They gave us a brief summary of the responsibilities that came tied to the collar of these powerful creatures. Sure, Satie was tiny and cuddly and cute now, but she'll eventually grow up into a 45-pound walking bundle of dynamite, complete with a bone-crushing jaw. Yeah, fine, okay, we just wanted to get her home (at this time I'd begun to see what all the big to-do was over these little puppy things). I fell in love with our pup, and over the months we played every moment we had together. She was loved, and she knew it. Michelle and I gave her the attention she wanted, and the discipline she needed, and she grew up to be a great dog--despite the occasional accident onthe floor, or the chewed up books, or the ripped up carpet. The wood fragments at the front door, where she would scratch to let us know she wanted out. Despite all that, she was more than what we ever asked for in a dog. And friendly. She was the sweetest creature to anyone who she met. There were times we could take her for a walk without the lease, in the residential area of Waterloo, and never have to worry about her straying too far, or bothering with other dogs or people. She was approachable by kids, and the only thing we would have to worry about was her over-anxious tongue. The only problem I've ever encountered with Satie was when I got my second kitten (a black Siamese mix who I named Bram, appropriate because I got him for a Halloween present from my wife, and when I picked him up he bit me between the thumb and first finger). Bram had lived for nearly a week in the spare bed- room, until he was comfortable enough that I thought he could be introduced to the rest of the fami- ly (Satie and Hobbes, our spunky two year-old cat). He didn't like Satie, and made a point to show her b), snatching her on the nose with a paw full of claws (I never declaw my cats, wondering how I'd like to have fingers without nails, and save all your furniture comments!). Satie didn't appreci- ate this too much, understand- ably, and she bared her teeth and lunged at Bram, I was there t6. stop it before it got too far. Brain sprinted back to the spare room, where he lived another day or two. Eventually they all grew to become best friends. We've since traded our furry kids in for real ones. Not that we elected to do so by choice. We would have had no problems with Satie and the cats with the kids. But when we moved the last time, pets were not allowed, and we had to part ways (a big, teary affair). I've read recently that a group of pit-bulls were responisble for killing a woman in Chicago. I've read about a case in Georgia where a pit-bull mauled the arm and face of a boy. I've read about several dog attacks over the years, and I wonder how I could have ever been so comfortable with my own man-killer lying mere feet away from me. She had over a thousand days of living with me to lock her jaws on my throat. She didn't. Amazing. I could have ben dead at least a thousand times over. I'm so glad the country has brought to my attention the mass-hysteria con- cerning these beasts known as mans best friend. I've often thought about adopting another beast from the shelter, but should I move to Lone Tree I will have to have my beast destroyed, as Lone Tree has an ordinance against such crea- tures. Now, while I am defending my dog, I am not condoning the behavior of those dogs who have been brought up in violent atmospheres; those trained to hurt or kill other dogs (or peo- pie). I feel absolutely terrible when I read in the newspapers that a little girl in Georgia was brutally mauled by a pit-bull. I believe it is a terrible act when a creature of any kind attacks a child; another human in general, and I believe that such creature should be investigated and termi- nated, if need be. But I refuse to see the logic behind banning all the Satie's of the world, and I'm running out of space, but I'll have more on this issue next week, in part 2. THE LONE TREE REPORTER (USPS 318-160) Slechta Communications, Inc. Bryon Houlgrave Michael Forbes Ron Rife Grynneth (Mrs. P) Parizek Publisher Editor/Reporter Sports Writer Columnist Columnist THE LONE TREE REPORTER (USPS 318-160) is published week- ly except Christmas for $23 per year in Johnson and Muscatine coun- ties, $25 per year elsewhere in Iowa and $30 per year in the conti- nental United States by Slechta Communications, Inc., The Lone Tree Reporter, 117 N Devoe St., Lone Tree, IA 52755. Periodicals postage paid at Lone Tree, IA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE LONE TREE REPORTER, PO Box 235, Lone Tree, IA 52755 Deadlines for The Lone Tree Reporter News deadline is Monday at 2 p.m. Advertising deadline is Monday at noon. Call The Lone Tree Reporter anytime at 629-5207, or call Bryon's cell phone 530-3291. Our fax number is: 629-4203 or e-mail us at Itnews@iowatelecom.net Upper righP. Soph- omore wrestler Jordan Kline in a blinding situ- ation. Above: Senior Travis Hotz puts in a reverse lay-up against West Liberty in a game earlier this month. Right:. the 7th grade girls basketball team. Corey Shaw is Middle School Geography Bee Champion Seventh grader, Corey Shaw won the annual Middle School Geography Bee for 2003. Corey is now taking a written test to try to qualify for the National Geographic State Bee. Corey reached the finals by competing in the preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds of questioning. Other finalists were Dan Elder (8th), Danielle Forbes (Sth), Willis Holland (7th), Katelyn Schreiber (6th), and Erin Rouse (6th). All of the finalists studied very hard for the semi-final com- petition and answered many ques- tions correctly. Corey was able to defeat the other semi-finalists by answering the following question correctly: In May 2002, an inva- sire secies of predatory fish was found in a pond about ten miles from the Chesapeake Bay, alarm- ing scientists and wildlife man- agers in which state.'? Correct answer: Maryland Congratulations, Corey. Mr. Dickey Dani Gilham is new member of American An: Association Dani Gilham, of Lone a new junior member of American Angus reports john Crouch, vice president of the organization with hea& St. Joseph, Missouri. Junior members of Association are eligible to ter cattle in the American Association, participate in grams conducted by the Junior Angus Association take part in sored shows and other and regional events. The American An Association is the largest registry association in the with more than 35,000 adult and junior members. Do you have strong opinion about an issue important to Lone Tree? Write a letter the titor. Pictures of l the Week The Lone Tree 7th grade girls basketball team. From top right: Coach Beth Broman, Jacki Finley, Jalynn Quigley, Makenzie Cover, Kim Chamberlain, Gina Rayner, Brittney Dolin, Kaylee Goldsberry, Chelsee Chamberlain, Diana Rice