Here's the table in the middle of the page as you had it:

Here's a table using a 1X1 gif and setting the bgcolour of the middle cell

Cat Island (1) Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah.

Eleuthera (1) Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah.

Here's a table using a 1X1 gif and setting the height if the img to the table height.

Cat Island (1) Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah.

Eleuthera (1) Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah.