Local business Roof Angel gave away a free roof to a veteran Friday night during the downtown Independence Day celebration.
The winner was Edward Hickerson, who served in the Army. Hickerson also owns his own business, Hickerson Honey, in which he cultivates and sells honey.
Hickerson reached the rank of sergeant serving in the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart. He was deployed to Iraq three different times for a total of 39 months.
Winning the roof is especially sweet for Hickerson because he’s having it installed on a home that has been in his family since at least 1976. He’s also proud of the home because his forebears, who are African American, were able to get a loan in that time period which was not easy.
And the Adams Street home was built in 1915.He said it’s one of those family homes that you need to “keep it up and keep it going.”
Hickerson also said—in addition to a questionnaire from Roof Angel to determine the recipient of the roof—he added a supplementary essay “because I know how much we need a new roof.”
According to Jake Gibson, the owner of Roof Angel, the reason to give a roof away was simple: “I love giving,” he said. “I get a joy seeing other people win.”
Rex Minton, vice president of sales for Roof Angel, said the company gave a roof away last year to a widow in need. And this year, with the nation celebrating its 250th anniversary, giving a roof to a veteran seemed fitting.
Gibson said the company will probably continue giving a free roof away to a veteran in future years.
Democrats open new party headquarters
The unofficial fall campaign kickoff statewide occurs in Fancy Farm in August, but local Democrats held their own unofficial start Friday afternoon with an open house at the party’s new headquarters.
Democratic candidates also stopped in to shake hands and to chat with supporters.
The local party chair, Justin Wright, said local Democrats—and independents—are getting fired up for the fall elections and want their voices to be heard. He said the economy and education, including special education, are some of the topics that are on people’s minds.
He also said local supporters were excited about a full slate of Democratic candidates running in the November general election.
Locally Democrats Rachel Bray, Jon Douglas, Butch Puttman and Bill “Stephens” Starks are running for seats on the Henderson County Fiscal Court with Les Jenkins-Mackey running for county judge-executive.
Additionally, Janelle Rowena Glass is running for state representative.
In national seats, Democrat John “Drew” Williams is challenging U.S. Rep. Jamie Comer for a seat in the House of Representatives, and Democrat Charles Booker is up against U.S. Rep. Andy Barr for the retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat.
Wright said the local party will work for all the Democrats in races but added that all politics are local, “so we start there.”
Bray takes on incumbent Tim Southard. Douglas takes on J.R. Stanley, who defeated incumbent Keith Berry in the May primary. Puttman, the incumbent, will take on challenger Robert Morgan. Starks, an incumbent, faces off against newcomer Noah Mills.
Glass is running against incumbent J.T. Payne.
Henderson’s state senator, Robby Mills, a Republican, won’t face a challenger.
Williams is facing an uphill challenge against Comer, a nationally known politician who makes appearances on cable news. Wright believes Williams, who has conducted a campaign crisscrossing the wide-ranging first district for more than a year now, has a shot. Williams recently qualified financially to take part in an October debate against Comer to be televised by KET, Wright said.
Scott wins first place in Kentucky Living photography contest
Local photographer Debbie Scott was a first-place winner in this year’s Kentucky Living magazine photo contest in the animal category.
The winning photograph of a bald eagle seemingly staring into the lens of her camera is titled “Icy Stare.”
Scott, who is also a contributing photographer for the Hendersonian, has had photo exhibits hang in the Capitol Rotunda the past three years as a part of the Governor’s Derby exhibit.
She’s also been awarded first place Ohio Valley Art League’s juried art exhibit in October 2025 and has won other awards for her photography.
HMP&L work continues on Sand Lane
Henderson Municipal Power & Light’s project to replace power poles continues in phase 2 this week and will focus on work on Sand Lane. Workers will continue replacing poles and power lines, said a HMP&L release. Motorists may encounter work zone traffic measures with the one lane of traffic in place in portions of the roadway, said the release. HMP&L advises motorists to obey traffic control flagmen and be cautious when driving through this work zone.
