To the Editor: Both rural low population density Fayetteville and small town Columbus, as well as big cities like conservative Fort Worth, are now suffering from an unusually high spike in Covid-19 cases that are probably the more contagious Delta variant. That Delta variant has primarily infected the unvaccinated but also the vaccinated with the latter suffering only mild cases for now.

To the Editor: Gov. Abbott’s agenda for the special session includes bills to restrict the teaching of slavery.

Refusing to submit to peaceful eviction from the Lone Star Republic, the Cherokee warriors stood their ground on Jul. 16, 1839 against the advancing Texans and thereby ensured a bloody day of reckoning for the Civilized Tribe.

When I saw the red shoes on the shelf my heart skipped a beat because they brought to mind our precious mother’s red shoes. Mama was born in 1909 when ladies fashions included pointy-toed, high-button shoes, skirts that swept the floor and petticoats, pantaloons and corsets were concealed underneath it all. Women’s hair was worn long, “done up” high or drawn back into a bun. However, by the year 1920, women’s fashions drastically changed. Dresses became short, hair styles were “bobbed”, high- buttoned and pointy-toed shoes were “out” and dancing the Charleston was “in”.

The Texas Legislature convened in special session last Thursday and GOP legislators introduced a fresh set of voting bills after Democrats blocked an earlier attempt during the regular session by walking out in May, preventing a quorum.

Dear Readers: This month I have a family reunion and will be aiding a friend having knee replacement surgery. Please allow me to take July “off” and re-print a column first published in 2008.

To the Editor: It sure is funny how the Democrats keep talking about preserving democracy, but when they run away to Washington D.C. to escape their duty as representatives to the people they act like children.

To the Editor: This morning’s Texas Tribune reports, “The fallout of Democrats’ Austin exodus to stop a proposed voting restrictions bill has begun.” So what the Dems are objecting to are the introduced HB 3 and SB 1,which contain key reforms such as: • Adding voter identification to vote by mail, making it consistent with in-person voting • Strengthening prohibitions against ballot harvesting • Protecting poll watcher access, improving transparency • Monthly reviews of voter rolls to verify their accuracy It was reported by the Sentinel, “51 Democrats boarded a private jet to fly to Washington D.C. to deny a quorum” and “while there, plan to lobby for H.R.

Mosquitos have a love affair with me. I do not willingly participate in this one-way drama, but my disinterest does not deter these pesky insects from thinking parts of my body are divinely delicious.

Beauford Jester boarded the night train for Houston half an hour before midnight on Jul. 10, 1949.