Looking back: Henderson County s top stories in 2020
The past year managed to bring both hardships and victories to Henderson County.
Countless lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of reported cases, nearly 100 deaths, and many people losing their jobs due to the economic fallout from the pandemic.
The community lost some of its beloved leaders, including Henderson County Commissioner Charlie Messer, who died suddenly in July; former Fletcher Mayor Bill Moore; and Sheriff s Office deputy Ryan Hendrix, who was killed in the line of duty in September.
Some light has come out of 2020, from developments bringing jobs and housing to the county to increased calls for social justice and a focus on equality.
Local businesses partner with the school system each year to welcome kindergarteners to their first year of formal education with this special gift, which has their unique “Class Of” date that starts conversations about college- and career- readiness at a young age. Since the schools began the 2020-21 school year fully remote due to Covid-19, there wasn t an opportunity to have the annual kindergarten T-shirt distribution as part of the back-to-school season.
But thanks to the generosity of local community partners, some creative thinking, and enthusiastic elementary principals and teachers, this year s kindergarteners aren’t missing out on what s become a well-loved tradition in the HCPS Family.
Three Henderson County schools go fully virtual just before winter holidays my40.tv - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from my40.tv Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lurah Lowery, Times-News staff writer
More than 160 teachers with Henderson County Public Schools have signed a letter stating the School Board has been inconsistent with the COVID-19 data it s used to make decisions about in-person learning.
West Henderson High science teacher Kathleen Abraham, one of around 950 teachers working for the school system, penned the letter and began sending it to teachers for their support Dec. 10.
She submitted the letter and signatures as public comment Dec. 13 in time for the School Board’s meeting the next day.
“It felt like in the summer when the School Board was meeting there was a lot of talk about making sure teachers could stay healthy and making decisions that kept our students healthy,” Abraham said on Friday.
Nearly 100 Henderson County teachers sign letter to school board about COVID-19 concerns my40.tv - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from my40.tv Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.