McHenry County Blog

You can’t tell me that the Northwest Herald’s Chris Kurg doesn’t have a sense of humor.

In his Sunday column, he tells of an encounter with a bat.

No. This isn’t a Dracula story. Nothing about Ivan, the Impaler.

But, after telling his bat story, he drops this gem:

“Kind of got me thinking … McHenry County Rabid Bats. That would make a cool name for a minor-league baseball team.

“You know, if we had a minor-league baseball team.”

For the record, Keely Cat and I think the

would be an excellent name for a minor league baseball team.

Or, maybe I should say “would have made an excellent name” had McHenry County College been able to pull off a baseball stadium the way Heartland Community College has.

Bats, after all, only come out at night and that’s when the MCC board held its secret meetings.

Bats like to hide and the MCC board certainly hid a lot with the $400,000 it paid baseball promoter Pete Heitman’s buddy Mark Houser.

The work product the college provided me gives no indication of $400,000 of value received.

I’m waiting for the day that the Northwest Herald will announce that for a multi-million payment a minor league baseball stadium will become its namesake.

You can’t tell me that the Northwest Herald’s Chris Kurg doesn’t have a sense of humor.

In his Sunday column, he tells of an encounter with a bat.

No. This isn’t a Dracula story. Nothing about Ivan, the Impaler.

But, after telling his bat story, he drops this gem:

“Kind of got me thinking … McHenry County Rabid Bats. That would make a cool name for a minor-league baseball team.

“You know, if we had a minor-league baseball team.”

For the record, Keely Cat and I think the

would be an excellent name for a minor league baseball team.

Or, maybe I should say “would have made an excellent name” had McHenry County College been able to pull off a baseball stadium the way Heartland Community College has.

Bats, after all, only come out at night and that’s when the MCC board held its secret meetings.

Bats like to hide and the MCC board certainly hid a lot with the $400,000 it paid baseball promoter Pete Heitman’s buddy Mark Houser.

The work product the college provided me gives no indication of $400,000 of value received.

I’m waiting for the day that the Northwest Herald will announce that for a multi-million payment a minor league baseball stadium will become its namesake.

The McHenry County Health Department, a.k.a, the wannabe McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors are back.

The have identified two rabid bats in Cary.

That’s pretty close.

And, one got inside.

In a basement.

Don’t play coy.

You know about basements.

You run through the basement door any chance you get.

Then Cat Mom has to use those cat wipie dipes to clean off the dirt.

Now, if she reads this article, she might be more worried that you would get bitten by a rabid bat.

You are so lucky that she doesn’t read McHenry County Blog.

No word on whether the McHenry County Board will try to force house cats to have rabies shots, while ignoring those barn cats that may be in real danger.

“If it’s all the same with you, Cat Dad, I’d rather sleep.”

The McHenry County Health Department, a.k.a, the wannabe McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors are back.

The have identified two rabid bats in Cary.

That’s pretty close.

And, one got inside.

In a basement.

Don’t play coy.

You know about basements.

You run through the basement door any chance you get.

Then Cat Mom has to use those cat wipie dipes to clean off the dirt.

Now, if she reads this article, she might be more worried that you would get bitten by a rabid bat.

You are so lucky that she doesn’t read McHenry County Blog.

No word on whether the McHenry County Board will try to force house cats to have rabies shots, while ignoring those barn cats that may be in real danger.

“If it’s all the same with you, Cat Dad, I’d rather sleep.”

Since more rabid bats have come into contact with people than with cats, using the logic of the McHenry County Department of Health, it seems that we should expect a recommendation that all human beings be vaccinated against rabies.

That’s the thought that came to mind as I read this story in the Daily Herald.

And look at this great table that I found in the Northwest Herald while reading back copies that my mother-in-law is kind enough to save for me.

Keeley Cat is still keeping our home in Lakewood bat free.

Maybe I am missing something.

The top picture is of Keely on our large living room couch.

No, it isn’t.

That’s our 10-year old imitating the Mitten, called “Badmitten” when appropriate.

Catkins is in the photograph below on the smaller couch.

You can see that he is perfectly capable of protecting the Skinner household.

He practices on insects.

Click on his picture and see how fierce this cat is.

Since more rabid bats have come into contact with people than with cats, using the logic of the McHenry County Department of Health, it seems that we should expect a recommendation that all human beings be vaccinated against rabies.

That’s the thought that came to mind as I read this story in the Daily Herald.

And look at this great table that I found in the Northwest Herald while reading back copies that my mother-in-law is kind enough to save for me.

Keeley Cat is still keeping our home in Lakewood bat free.

Maybe I am missing something.

The top picture is of Keely on our large living room couch.

No, it isn’t.

That’s our 10-year old imitating the Mitten, called “Badmitten” when appropriate.

Catkins is in the photograph below on the smaller couch.

You can see that he is perfectly capable of protecting the Skinner household.

He practices on insects.

Click on his picture and see how fierce this cat is.

Well, here’s what the rabid bat hunter was up to on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Keely Cat was sitting in his bowl on top of the dining room table.

He was so secure now that the McHenry County Board has defeated the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax that he wasn’t even facing the window.

As I was getting ready to take a picture the flash attachment woke up the sleeping cat.

This scratching was the most exercise he seemed up to at this time of day when outdoor cats would be sleeping, too.

Well, here’s what the rabid bat hunter was up to on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Keely Cat was sitting in his bowl on top of the dining room table.

He was so secure now that the McHenry County Board has defeated the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax that he wasn’t even facing the window.

As I was getting ready to take a picture the flash attachment woke up the sleeping cat.

This scratching was the most exercise he seemed up to at this time of day when outdoor cats would be sleeping, too.

The McHenry County Health Department raised the specter of rabid bats biting cats in its attempt to pass the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax.

The problem with the proposal, which, in more than just my opinion, was nothing more than a way to raise more tax money to pay for a new animal control facility, was that outdoor cats were exempt from the tax and the requirement to be inoculated against rabies.

I repeated asked on McHenry County Blog whether a house cat or a barn cat was more likely to encounter a bat.

The department veterinarian could not, however, point to one instance of a McHenry County cat having been bitten by a rabid bat.

Friday, the health department issued a press release including the words “rabid bad” and “cat.”

I’d put it on McHenry County Blog, if it were on the county web site in Micro Soft Word, but I’m not about to to-type it from the pdf format.

The bats were found inside the home’s attic.

“As a precaution, the family will receive treatment for rabies,” the press release says.

The department got a

headline in Elgin’s Courier-News Saturday.

The article says,

“The bat didn’t come in contact with humans, but officials are looking into possible exposure to a pet cat, according to a news release from the health department.”

After I typed the above, I went back and read the press release again. I don’t see anything in it about a cat living in the home.

OK, I’ll copy the body of the press release and if you click on it you can read it yourself.

Where did the Elgin paper get its headline, plus the paragraph I have quoted above?

I can’t even find anything in the press release that says a cat was in the home.

The health department does strongly suggest not to touch a bat, because rabid ones have been found in nearby counties.

The McHenry County Health Department raised the specter of rabid bats biting cats in its attempt to pass the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax.

The problem with the proposal, which, in more than just my opinion, was nothing more than a way to raise more tax money to pay for a new animal control facility, was that outdoor cats were exempt from the tax and the requirement to be inoculated against rabies.

I repeated asked on McHenry County Blog whether a house cat or a barn cat was more likely to encounter a bat.

The department veterinarian could not, however, point to one instance of a McHenry County cat having been bitten by a rabid bat.

Friday, the health department issued a press release including the words “rabid bad” and “cat.”

I’d put it on McHenry County Blog, if it were on the county web site in Micro Soft Word, but I’m not about to to-type it from the pdf format.

The bats were found inside the home’s attic.

“As a precaution, the family will receive treatment for rabies,” the press release says.

The department got a

headline in Elgin’s Courier-News Saturday.

The article says,

“The bat didn’t come in contact with humans, but officials are looking into possible exposure to a pet cat, according to a news release from the health department.”

After I typed the above, I went back and read the press release again. I don’t see anything in it about a cat living in the home.

OK, I’ll copy the body of the press release and if you click on it you can read it yourself.

Where did the Elgin paper get its headline, plus the paragraph I have quoted above?

I can’t even find anything in the press release that says a cat was in the home.

The health department does strongly suggest not to touch a bat, because rabid ones have been found in nearby counties.