REBECCA YERGER
From the pages of Napa Countyâs history books jump stories about unbelievable but true crimes. These malevolent acts were carried out by some of the most unsavory of characters include the Civil War-era home invader, Prohibition boot-leggers and a saloon-smashing dentist.
During the early 1860s âBlack Jackâ Bowen led a predacious pack of outlaws who terrorized the region. Bowen and he gang invaded the Napa area home of John Patchett, owner of Napa Valleyâs first commercial winery. As part of this home invasion, Bowen drugged Patchett prior to ransacking and burglarizing his residence. They left that Fuller Park area home with many of Patchettâs most cherished and prized possessions. But they were not finished with Napans.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Vaccine unavailability, Lt. Col. Bobby Harris, democracy, John Prine, Dallas Cowboys
Readers share their frustrations about trying to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, loved the obituary about Lt. Col. Bobby Harris, worry about the mob at the U.S. Capitol, felt John Prince should be on the list of those we lost in 2020, and point out the Cowboys’ long losing streak.
Vaccine search was fruitless
Sitting on the floor of my living room, I pored over pharmacy and health department websites, trying to decipher which sites still had vaccines. Every few minutes, I called out a string of numbers to my father, who quickly dialed the phone and contacted each facility, one by one. After a few hours of desperation and fruitless phone calls, we admitted defeat.
To add to the list of workers who have endured undignified treatment are landscape workers, many of whom are not given basic ear protection while working with damaging noise. Most of them are documented, but feel disempowered to ask for basic health rights.
I got no response from a landscaper when I suggested providing ear protection to handlers of leaf blowers, and I found it is not under the jurisdiction of the city to enforce health standards. I share in the frustration Heath Prince must feel.
Susan Kleinman, Austin
Texas embarrassments
Hasn t the state of Texas embarrassed itself enough with our lame, half-hearted, ineffectual response to COVID-19, but we now have to add the threat of secession? Must we continually strive to be the dumbest guys in the room?