Johnson is elected to international human rights board
The Rev. Charles Johnson was recently elected to the board of directors for the International Association of Human Rights Agencies.
Johnson was elected from the floor at the IAOHRA’s annual conference in New Orleans in August. He will serve as an at-large member of the organization’s board of directors.
Johnson said he was “honored and humbled” to have been elected.
“I’m proud that Henderson is a great place to live and be,” Johnson said, adding that he didn’t think “little Henderson” would be a part of any international board, “but we are.”
Also at the conference were agencies around the state, including the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and the Lexington Human Rights Commission, Johnson said.
Johnson, the executive director of the Henderson-Henderson County Human Rights Commission and pastor at Greater Norris Chapel Baptist Church, said his new role will require some travel as well as attending quarterly meetings, which can occur on Zoom.
Among some of the action taken at the conference, Johnson said at the conference the IAOHRA adopted resolutions to help agencies create human rights culture city in their respective municipalities.
The IAOHRA also took a stand in a resolution that supported diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives in support of municipalities continuing to maintain DEI policies and to promote them, Johnson said.
Also at the conference, a resolution was passed to honor the life of national civil rights, leader, politician and activist Jesse Jackson.
Johnson said the IAOHRA is an independent organization that does not receive federal government funding.
Also attending the conference was Cooper Back, the executive director of Henderson KY Pride.
–Vince Tweddell
Gold selected to serve on the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council
Henderson County Attorney Steve Gold has been selected by the Kentucky County Attorneys Association to serve on the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council.
The Prosecutors Advisory Council, a 13-member body established by state law to administer Kentucky’s Unified Prosecutorial System, is chaired by the Kentucky attorney general and includes five county attorneys, five commonwealth’s attorneys and two citizen members. Gold was selected by the Kentucky County Attorneys Association to represent county attorneys from across the commonwealth, said a release from the Henderson County Attorney’s Office.
“I am honored by the confidence my fellow County Attorneys have placed in me through this selection,” Gold said in the release. “Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated prosecutors and public servants from every part of Kentucky. I am grateful for this opportunity to continue serving our profession and to help ensure that the voices and perspectives of County Attorneys and the communities we serve are represented in important statewide discussions.”
Kentucky County Attorneys Association President Joe Ross praised Gold’s selection and his longstanding commitment to the organization.
“Steve is a natural fit for the Prosecutor’s Advisory Council as he has been a leader in our organization since he took office as Henderson County Attorney,” said Ross. “I have learned a lot from Steve in my time as county attorney and have really admired his leadership since I served on his board when he was KCAA president. He has remained a valuable leader in our organization and never turned down a request to serve. He will make an outstanding council member.”
The Prosecutors Advisory Council plays a central role in the administration and development of Kentucky’s Unified Prosecutorial System, which includes 177 commonwealth’s and county attorneys and their employees. Its responsibilities include financial administration, preparing the system’s proposed budget, providing training for prosecutors and adopting standards for prosecutors throughout the state.
Gold said he looks forward to bringing the perspective of Henderson County and other area communities to statewide discussions about the future of Kentucky’s prosecutorial system.
“County Attorneys are on the front lines of some of the most important challenges facing Kentucky communities,” Gold said. “The decisions made about funding, training, professional development, and the administration of our prosecutorial system directly affect our ability to protect children, support victims, hold offenders accountable, and help families in crisis.”
Gold’s selection follows a longstanding record of leadership and service within Kentucky’s prosecutorial community. He served as President of the Kentucky County Attorneys Association in 2016-2017, received the Kentucky Attorney General’s Outstanding County Attorney Award in 2015, and was named the Kentucky County Attorneys Association Member of the Year in 2022.
“To be selected by my fellow County Attorneys for this responsibility is a tremendous honor,” Gold said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues from across the Commonwealth to ensure that County Attorneys have the tools and resources necessary to serve Kentucky families.”
Dorsey Ridley named Rotarian of the Year
The Henderson Rotary Club on Thursday named Dorsey Ridley as its 2025-2026 Rotarian of the Year.
Ridley joined the Henderson Rotary in 2004 “and since that time, he has consistently answered the call to serve,” Dr. Kate Baker, immediate past president of the club, said in announcing the award.
“Whether leading our local club, supporting Rotary through leading in our district or simply being there when his community needs him, Dorsey Ridley has demonstrated that he is truly worthy of the honor of Rotarian of the Year,” Baker said.
Ridley served as club president during its centennial year in 2017-2018, during which time the club grew to 101 members.
He is a Paul Harris Fellow +4, was one of the founding members of the Rotary District 6710 Polio Plus Society and last year took on one of Rotary’s greatest leadership responsibilities, serving as governor for Rotary District 6710 in 2025-2026.
Beyond Rotary, Ridley has served as a Kentucky state senator for 14 years, president of Independence Bank in Henderson, the bank’s regional business development director and executive director of emerging industries for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
