Last Edited: June 13, 2023 @ 7:44 am

 Montgomery County, Tenn – In May of 2022, Montgomery County Trustee Kimberly Wiggins was named Middle Tennessee Trustee of the Year at the Tennessee County Trustees Association (TCTA) Conference.  

The 2022 TCTA Conference was held in Obion County, Tennessee, and hosted by TCTA President Marci Floyd, Weakley County Trustee. The TCTA is made up of all 95 counties in the state. This yearly event is five days long and includes business and committee meetings, continuing education sessions and more.  

Annually, the Trustees in attendance select a Trustee of the Year for the West, Middle, and East Grand Divisions. Wiggins was selected by her Middle Tennessee Trustee peers as the Middle Tennessee Trustee of the Year. “I cannot think of a more deserving honor for the admirable service Trustee Wiggins has provided to our local and statewide community so diligently since taking office. She is a leader and mentor who strives to continually serve well” said Marci Floyd, TCTA President. Currently, she currently serves as the Middle Tennessee Trustee Association (MTTA) President and TCTA Audit Committee Chairwoman.   

Montgomery County Trustee Kimberly Wiggins stated, “I am humbled by such an honor. The Trustees welcomed me with open arms when I took office and the least I can do is serve to the best of my ability in return.” 

Wiggins was elected Montgomery County Trustee in August 2018. This year, she has qualified as an unopposed Independent Candidate for re-election. The State Primary & County General Election will take place on August 4, 2022.  

Last Edited: June 13, 2023 @ 7:43 am

Montgomery County will provide space for a community garden at Rotary Park

 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TN – On July 11, representatives from AARP formally awarded a Community Challenge Grant of $12,900 to install a community garden near the Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park. Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Natural Resource and Program Manager Katie Netti and former CMC Green Certification Manager Carlye Sommers, co-authored the grant application in March 2022 and received notification of the award in June 2022.

The grant will cover the tools and supplies necessary for tilling, soil amendment, composting, and planting winter crops, and 10 raised mobile garden beds. The garden will be a way to bring the community together while learning and immersing in the outdoors.

“I was thrilled to learn that we received the grant! My uncle is a farmer, so I learned a lot about planting crops. We want to bring people of all ages and abilities to the garden. Bringing the community together through the garden,” said Katie Netti.

“It’s evident that Katie is passionate about putting the Community Challenge Grant to good use for people in Montgomery County. It is so good for AARP representatives to get back out and connect one-on-one with our communities again,” said AARP Community Outreach Director Stacy Pennington.

Various crops suitable for every season will be planted on the plot. This month and the month of August will be the time for prepping the land, now overgrown with wild brush.  The first seeds are expected to be planted this September.

The programming staff will manage the garden while volunteers will take care of the maintenance. Anyone who volunteers to help tend the garden will be eligible to receive some of the harvests at no cost.

“The community garden is another unique way for County Parks and Recreation to serve our citizens’ needs and recreational interests. Katie and her programming team look for opportunities to encourage nature engagement at every skill level and the garden is a perfect example of this,” said Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Director Sally Burchett.

This project is part of the largest group of grantees to date with $3.4 million awarded among 260 organizations nationwide. Since 2017, AARP Tennessee has awarded 18 grants and more than $223,000 through the program to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the state. AARP Challenge Grantees will implement quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public places; transportation; housing; diversity, equity and inclusion; digital access; and civic engagement, with an emphasis on the needs of adults age 50 and over.

Please watch the Montgomery County, TN and Montgomery County Parks and Recreation social media outlets for a volunteer sign-up form.

Last Edited: December 29, 2022 @ 8:50 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TN – The ban on open air burning that went into effect for Montgomery County on June 30, 2022, was officially rescinded this afternoon by Commissioner Charlie Hatcher of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Last Edited: December 29, 2022 @ 8:49 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn​. – This Friday, July 15, Downtown @ Sundown will feature ACE Party Band! Beginning at 7 p.m., ACE Party Band will show off their considerable musical range and take the stage! ACE Party Band has a sound for everyone with a versatile track list that includes anything from Michael Jackson to Lizzo to Chris Stapleton. With rave reviews throughout the southeast, Clarksville will have an incredible night of fun with ACE Party Band!

Local food trucks will also be set up before and during the shows. Burgasm, Firelime Offshore Grill, Heather’s Homemade Icecream, Johnny & June’s Italian Ice and TN Kettle Corn are all expected to be on site. Tater Headz will also be open at the walk-up eatery on Legion Street and Third Street. Beer and other beverages will be for sale, with all proceeds benefiting our featured non-profit, United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region. 

Main Street will be blocked off between Second Street and Third Street beginning at 4:30 p.m. to make room for the food trucks. Downtown @ Sundown Concerts are free and open to the public and take place the first and third Fridays of each month through October. Chairs and blankets are welcome; however, pets, coolers, smoking/vaping or outside alcohol will not be allowed on site.

Downtown @ Sundown is title sponsored by TriStar Beverage and Shelby’s Trio and sponsored in part by Waste Connections of Clarksville.

To stay up to date with events happening at the Downtown Commons, visit our Facebook page at Downtown Commons and our Instagram page @downtowncommonstn.

Last Edited: May 05, 2025 @ 4:50 pm

VSO Director shares data from the Veterans Affairs Office

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TN – At the July 6 informal County Commission meeting, Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization Director Andrew Kester presented his annual overview of the benefits and economic impact of military veterans in the community. The data he shared is from the latest information the Veterans Administration (VA) provided.

Montgomery County is in the top four percent of all military veteran populations in the U.S. and ranked 25 for their total known veteran population at slightly over 14%. Out of the 3,134 counties in the United States, Montgomery County ranks number 309 in the overall population and 127 in the total veteran population. 

“When you consider the number of military veterans in the community who may be voters along with the voters in their household, I believe they make up at least 25% of our community,” said Kester.

From an economic standpoint, in 2021, a total of $459,412,000 has come from veterans' disability benefits alone. Montgomery County leads in economic impact over every other county across the state.

“That is not seen directly in our office but in the community in economic impact dollars in education, entertainment, and housing,” said Kester.

The three main concerns identified to VA by the veteran community were healthcare, disability benefits, and transportation. The degree of concern varied with age and demographics. The MCVSO assists and directs those three areas but primarily helps veterans with disability benefits.

"We are fortunate to have a local VA Clinic for healthcare but, if our veterans need to visit the VA Medical Center in Nashville, we have a 501C3 non-profit veterans van service for transportation. We are one of the few VSOs in the state that offers rides. We also provide veterans van service with a computer and phone, which is part of a cross-collaborative effort of the non-profit and public sectors,” added Kester.

Between 2019 through 2021, MCVSO served more than 9,000 veterans each year with no significant difference in numbers through COVID-19. Eighty percent of the veterans they serve live in Montgomery County, 10% live outside Montgomery County, and 10% live out of state.

“We make the biggest impact at our VSO and have the largest staff because of the support we receive from County Commissioners, our VSO board, the Mayor and the community, allowing us to provide the best services for our veterans,” said Kester. 

To see the presentation, visit https://bit.ly/3OSot7z, and to find out more about MCVSO, visit https://mcgtn.org/vso.