Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:36 am

Approximately 90 people gathered in the afternoon heat to celebrate the revitalization of Stokes Field at a groundbreaking ceremony on July 17 as youth football practice took place in the background.

Stokes Field opened in 1969 after Nelson Stokes, Eddie Schrecker, and Jim Howell pitched in $4,700 for the field and equipment. It served the community for five decades with up to 1,500 youth using the baseball and softball fields at the height of its use. Over the last 10 years, the field fell into disrepair resulting in a lack of use by the community.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden shared some history about the field’s namesake. “This field was named after Nelson Stokes, a man who served people his entire life. Nelson was a WWII, Army Veteran who settled in Montgomery County in 1946. He grew up playing baseball in the cornfields of Kentucky and vowed that if he could, he would help youngsters have a better place to play. For five decades Stokes Field brought joy to many families. We are excited to work with our school system to bring that joy back to the community.”

In August 2019, Montgomery County Parks & Recreation and the County Engineering Department held a public input meeting at New Providence Middle School to discuss plans for Stokes Field.

“We have seen different versions of this project and hit many roadblocks, but I stand here in front of you today,” said Montgomery County Parks & Recreation Director Sally Read, “with a design that meets our community’s needs and a budget that fully funds it.” 

County Engineers Nick Powell and Hunter Staggs, Jimmy Bagwell with Moore Designs, Brad Martin of Lyle, Cook, and Martin along with the Rock City Construction team were recognized for their involvement. Read also thanked former Mayor Durrett for beginning the process in 2019 while Mayor Golden was thanked for his continued support along with the county commissioners, the Parks & Recreation team, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.

“We know people have great stories and memories about time spent on this field. Please share your photos and stories by sending them to Stokes@mcgtn.net through February 2025. Our plan is to create a mural with the photos. This was an idea brought to me by Commissioner Lankford,” added Read.

Commissioner Jeremiah Walker picked up the mantel for Stokes Field from his predecessor former Commissioner James Lewis. 

“This is an investment in our youth. If we do not invest in our youth now, believe me when I tell you we will invest in them later on down the road. It may not be an investment we want to make later,” said Walker.

Commissioner Walker, also a Baptist preacher, wrapped up by using the story of Lazarus as an analogy for Stokes Field, explaining that the field got sick and even died. He stated that now is the time for the field to come back to life.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/mcgtn/videos/1633225140800034 to see the full ceremony.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:36 am

The first County Connections event will be hosted at Downtown Commons on July 25 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. 

The event, which was presented by County Parks & Recreation Director Sally Read, is an opportunity to talk to people who serve the residents of Montgomery County through their work in local government, to gain better knowledge of the difference in services between county and city government, and have fun.

“We understand our residents are sometimes confused about the services provided by Montgomery County and the City of Clarksville, so we thought this would be an enjoyable way to learn. I am thrilled with the number of County offices and departments that signed up to participate,” said Read. 

County services will be showcased, live music will be played, and the lawn games will be out during the event. Montgomery County Animal Care and Control will have the adoption trailer onsite, and children can also enjoy our County Touch-A-Truck section, featuring equipment from EMS, the Highway Department, Parks and Recreation, and the Sheriff's Office. For those who want to grab a bite, Wolf Down will be open, Driving You Donuts will be onsite, and various local downtown restaurants are available.

The County Connections event is free and open to the public.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:35 am

Teya Moore was recently selected for the newly created position of juvenile resource coordinator in Juvenile Court. Moore will be responsible for coordinating community-based services to help prevent children and youth from further involvement in the juvenile justice system by screening and working to provide resources to at-risk children and their families. She will also act as a liaison for various community partners and agencies. 

Moore is an experienced human services professional with a strong background in managing organizations, military personnel, and social service agencies. She has a proven track record of coordinating and maintaining positive relationships with multidisciplinary teams, providing comprehensive case management services, and evaluating program effectiveness. 

Before joining Montgomery County, Moore was the program coordinator for Catholic Charities in Clarksville. She also has experience working for Clarksville Housing Authority, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Soldier Transition Assistance Program, and Goodwill Career Solutions (Employment and Training).

She earned a Master of Science in Human Services with a specialization in Social and Community Services and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.

"I’m grateful Mayor Golden suggested moving forward with the hiring for this vital position to work with our youth and families. Teya has hit the ground running and has already proved to be a great asset to our team," expressed Juvenile Court Director Edward Moss.

“I am eager to work with the Juvenile Court team, agencies, and community partners to support our families and youth. When I met with the juvenile court team and other County leaders during the hiring process, it was obvious they truly cared about our youth,” said Moore.

For information on Montgomery County Government Juvenile Court, visit https://mcgtn.org/juvenile.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:40 am

The Montgomery County Commission voted to ratify the appointment of Cassie A. Wheeler to the position of Accounts and Budgets Director at the July 8 formal county commission meeting.

Wheeler has worked as a finance and accounting consultant at the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service, Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) for the last three years providing financial consultation services to municipalities, helping with various finance and accounting topics including budgeting, purchasing, payroll, debt, capital projects, cash management, grants, internal control, year-end closing, financial reporting, and auditing training.

Her responsibilities also included training elected officials and municipal staff across Tennessee, developing municipal finance staff, and helping municipalities with budget preparation. Wheeler assisted multiple municipalities in converting budget line-item details into the budget ordinance, recommending changes to ensure budgets are balanced, and correcting budget issues identified by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.

Wheeler also worked as an internal auditor for the City of Clarksville for four years and as a senior accountant and accountant for the Clarksville Gas and Water Department for 10 years. 

She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a Management Minor from Austin Peay State University in 2007 and holds certifications as 
a Government Financial Manager, a Fraud Examiner, and a Municipal Finance Officer.

"We are excited to bring Cassie on board. She is a financial professional with extensive knowledge of budgeting and financial reporting in local government," said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

The Montgomery County Accounts and Budgets Director manages department services, information systems, purchasing, accounting, finance, municipal court, revenue collections, budget control, and collections. The director recommends policies, oversees the annual budget, approves fund forecasts, and authorizes expenditures and departmental expenses.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity and look forward to working with Montgomery County officials and employees. I am ready to apply my knowledge of local government finance and accounting and learn from my new team,” Wheeler stated.

Wheeler begins her service with Montgomery County on July 15, replacing former Accounts and Budgets Director Jeff Taylor, who recently accepted the chief financial officer position with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:41 am

The Bi-County Solid Waste Management Transfer Station, located at 1230 Highway Drive, is closed until further notice for repairs. Late Sunday evening, the pit blade broke. It ran on one lane yesterday while they worked to repair the blade. Unfortunately, repairs are more extensive than expected.

In order for the contractor to make repairs and for the safety of the public, the Transfer Station will be down until it is back in full operation. Bi-County will notify the public through local media and Montgomery County social media outlets.

During the closure, all large loads must be delivered to Bi-County’s main landfill location at 3212 Dover Road between the hours of 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We understand this closure is an inconvenience but it is necessary for the long-term operation of the center. We appreciate our patrons’ cooperation during this time,” stated Mark Neblett, Executive Director of Bi-County Solid Waste.

For questions, please call 931-648-5751 or visit mcgtn.org.

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