Very somber occasion as Henderson County hits 100 COVID deaths
One hundred.
That is how many people have now died from COVID-19 in Henderson County, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
“It is a very somber occasion to reach the mark of 100 COVID-19 deaths in our community. It echoes the toll and human suffering we have experienced as a nation over the past year with over 400,000 deaths now,” Henderson County Health Director Steve Smith said Monday.
“Everyone has a different perspective about the pandemic and its impact in Henderson County. The families and loved ones of those lost wouldn’t debate with you. They have experienced those losses in a direct and personal way . a friend, a family member, a neighbor,” he continued.
Here s how to contact vaccine providers in Henderson County
As of the past week, the Henderson County Department of Public Health, Pardee UNC Health Care, AdventHealth Hendersonville and Blue Ridge Health are the only providers in Henderson County holding mass vaccination clinics for the general public.
All available COVID-19 vaccination appointments with each provider quickly book up. You may be unable to book an appointment online or over the phone if appointments are all filled, so the public is encouraged to check back with providers frequently.
Local call centers are flooded with thousands of calls to fill just hundreds of appointments. Distributors in Henderson County have to count on the state for all allotments and are given short notice on updated supplies.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Henderson County is projecting a positive financial situation as it begins the process of formulating the next fiscal year s budget.
The Board of Commissioners met Wednesday morning to receive a report from County Manager Steve Wyatt, a financial forecast and an overview of budget priorities.
Commissioners heard updates and goals related to Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College and the Henderson County Department of Public Health, as well as renovations at the Henderson County Courthouse, the county jail and the VFW building.
The challenges from the pandemic have been unlike anything Wyatt has seen in his career, he said. During last year’s budget cycle, commissioners made decisions “conservatively and cautiously” that have put them in a comfortable financial position.
James Edney remembered as generous, devoted man
James Jimmy Edney Sr. is remembered by his family as a loyal, generous man who dedicated his life to supporting his community and loved ones.
Edney passed away Thursday at the age of 90. He was instrumental in the local real estate community and led Land of the Sky Realty for decades. His prints are on projects such as Carolina Village, Kenmure, the revitalization of Hendersonville’s Main Street and several others.
His daughter, Alice Patterson, has lost count of how many people have said her father helped them purchase their first home. Her father’s generosity cannot be overstated.