County Report: Coffee with Cops; COVID update

(Pictured, from left, State Rep. Keith Bell, Kevin Lilly, Athens Police Chief John Densmore, and County Judge Wade McKinney.)This interview was recorded Wednesday, Jan. 5, at the Henderson County Courthouse Annex.==In the first episode of the County Report for 2022, Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney talks about attending a Coffee with Cops event in Athens and the increase in COVID cases in Henderson County.I. Coffee with Cops (:40)A Coffee with Cops event was held Wednesday morning at the Athens McDonald’s owned by Kevin and Jeaneane Lilly. Coffee with Cops brings police officers and the community members they serve together to discuss issues and learn more about each other.Officials who were there included Athens Police Chief John Densmore along with several members of the Athens Police Department, Judge McKinney, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, 392nd District Judge Scott McKee, District Attorney Jenny Palmer, State Rep. Keith Bell, and Congressman Lance Gooden.“It was really a fun event,” said Judge McKinney. “Just getting together and getting to visit. People from all walks of life here in the County and City came together and just sat down and had a visit over a cup of coffee.”II. COVID Update (5:09)COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Henderson County along with increased hospitalizations in the region. (Henderson County is part of Trauma Service Area G (TSA-G), which serves Tyler/Longview and includes about 968,000 people.)Since Dec. 27, hospitalizations in TSA-G have gone from 4.62 percent of hospital capacity to 9.27 percent.At the time of this recording, there were 207 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in TSA-G.“This whole thing is about hospital capacity,” Judge McKinney said. “COVID – be it the original, be it delta, be it omicron – all puts a strain on the system.”He reminded everyone to continue washing their hands, social distancing, staying away from crowded places, and staying home if they don’t feel well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com