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CLINTON — A longtime Clinton resident has become a local legacy in the way he cheers up others.
Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves. Others, like Kelly Hertel, wears his on his sleeve and on his driveway and home.
"They know me as the Ghost Rider of Clinton," said Hertel.
The biker skeleton costume is hard to miss.
"Costume weighs 60 pounds!" said Hertel.
His home is also hard to miss.
"When I put my address down, I don't even say anything. You'll know it when you see it!" said Hertel.
He spends hours outside drawing and painting.
"I do this like every day," said Hertel.
What started back in March 2020 as a way to let his daughter who lives out of state know he was OK during the start of the pandemic, turned into a masterpiece that inspires others, including kids with special health needs.
"This is something I came up with myself. Give your imagination no limitation," said Hertel.
Following that creed, this summer, he's drawing something new: Superheroes… flying right beside ghost rider.
"I might be a hero for many, but I tell you what. The fact that they could sit there and keep smiling and be so happy with their life… to me… the kids. They're the real heroes," said Hertel.
Clocking hours day in and day out, Hertel said he's put in over 4,500 hours into painting and drawing.
By Halloween, he said he fully expects to hit 5,000 hours.
Putting in all those hours on top of a full-time job, you might wonder if he plans on putting down the paintbrush anytime soon.
Negative, ghost rider.
"I don't think I'll ever stop doing this until I can't do it no more," said Hertel.
