MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Montgomery County Veterans Service Office (MCVSO) will close Monday, Sept. 30 through Wednesday, Oct. 2 while the staff attends mandatory service officer training in Chattanooga, TN. 

All veterans service officers credentialed by the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services must attend the conference and pass the exam following the training, to remain credentialed. The office will resume normal operating hours on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. 

For more information on the MCVSO, visit https://mcgtn.org/vso.

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Last Edited: September 25, 2024 @ 9:34 am

CLARKSVILLE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TENN. – On Saturday, September 21, 2024, "Operation Lightning Strike," a large-scale casualty training exercise, was conducted at Tennova Healthcare's campus on Dunlop Lane. This event was organized and facilitated by Daniel Wall and Scott E. Smith, the Montgomery County Emergency Management Planner, and featured a collaborative effort with around 500 participants.

The exercise involved various agencies, including the Clarksville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Homeland Security, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Emergency Management Agency, Clarksville Fire Rescue, Mont. Co. Volunteer Fire, Risk Management, City and County E-911 call takers and dispatchers.  Medical services such as Montgomery County EMS, Vanderbilt, First Call, Amerimed Ambulance, Vanderbilt Life Flight, and Air Evac Helicopter service, along with members of TRANE all contributed to the operation's success.

APSU nursing students played a critical role, using moulage techniques and simulated blood to create fake injuries that enhanced the realism of the exercise. Various first responders and law enforcement personnel coordinated responses from mobile command centers while training officers from multiple agencies ensured the safety of all participants.

After the exercise, members gathered at the main meeting point for a hot wash debriefing.  A "hot wash" is an immediate, informal debriefing session following an exercise or training event, where participants and leaders discuss the activity while it is still fresh in everyone's minds. The goal is to quickly evaluate performance, gather feedback, and identify lessons learned. These discussions help capture key insights on what went well, what didn't, and how things can be improved in the future.  

These types of drills are vital to ensure the preparedness and coordination of local emergency services. It helps to identify potential issues, refine emergency response strategies, and improve coordination among agencies, providing a valuable opportunity to enhance readiness for real emergencies.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Montgomery County Commission voted to ratify the appointment of Michael Rios to the position of Fire Chief at the September 9 formal county commission meeting.

With this new position and department, no new funding is required for the Fire Chief position. The money is being reallocated from the former Director of Emergency Services position that was held by Jimmie Edwards. This means the position does not create the need for new money and it separates The Director of EMA and the County Fire Chief positions which are both full-time jobs. 

Rios is a fire professional with over 22 years of experience. He has extensive knowledge in fire administration, public relations, budget management, policy and procedures, and enforcement of regulations. Rios was the Assistant Chief of Administration for Clarksville Fire Rescue from 2021 to 2024. In this role, he supervised administrative personnel, coordinated all community activities, and assisted in policy review. Prior to that, he held various roles including Fire Prevention Lieutenant/Captain, Engineer, Emergency Medical Responder, and Firefighter.

He earned a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University in 2022 and holds several awards, accolades, certificates, and training in his field.

“Having this dedicated position helps our community progress to the next level. We highly value our volunteers and look forward to getting them additional support. We know Chief Rios has a servant’s heart and will always put the safety of Montgomery County first,” said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

The Montgomery County Fire Chief will oversee and direct the internal operations of the fire department. This includes planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, and service offerings. The Fire Chief will also allocate resources, ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and standards, and coordinate activities between multiple service areas. Additionally, the Fire Chief will supervise the training program for auxiliary brigades, volunteers, pre-fire planning surveys, and company fire prevention inspections, as well as direct and oversee the enforcement of applicable local and State fire codes.

“I’m honored to be appointed the Fire Chief for Montgomery County Fire Service,” said Fire Chief Michael Rios. “I’m ready to get started. I look forward to working with the firefighters, County Commission, and Mayor Golden to improve services to Montgomery County,” said Rios.

Chief Rios begins his service with Montgomery County on Tuesday, September 10.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Montgomery County Government is seeking adult and youth nominations for the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards (GVSA). Nominations are due by November 1, 2024, and are located at https://mcgtn.org/comm.

As part of its effort to promote a culture of volunteering, GVSA recognizes people who contribute to the community on a local level. The GVSA promotes statewide volunteerism and strengthens community service participation throughout Tennessee every year. GVSA seeks to recognize one youth and one adult in each Tennessee county for exemplary volunteer work.

“Volunteerism is something close to my heart. There are a ton of unsung heroes who make a difference every day without seeking reward. Recognizing them is one way to show appreciation and encourage others to get involved,” stated Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

All nominations will be judged by a local committee. Final selections are due by November 1, 2024, to the GVSA Tennessee staff in Nashville. As well as nominees from other counties across Tennessee, Montgomery County's adult and youth nominees will be honored at the annual GVSA Ceremony on February 16, 2025.

Please send your nomination form or questions to Montgomery County Social Media and Marketing Specialist Valerie Linares at [email protected] or call 931-648-8482 ext. 2.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Montgomery County Government welcomes the 2024-2025 Mayor’s Emerging Leaders, a group of 26 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors serving as unofficial county committee members.Students participating in this year’s Mayor's Emerging Leaders Program, which began in late August, can attend committee meetings, and gain an inside look at how their local government operates. During the sessions, students are recognized and encouraged to ask questions.

"I am grateful to see students interested in learning about local government. The future belongs to our youth, so it is important for them to understand how their community works.," said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

County committees include the Airport Authority, Animal Control, Audit, Budget, E-911, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Protection, Jail and Juvenile, Parks, and School Liaison. The program is open to high school students in 10th through 12th grade. Announcements for the program are made through local media and social media and sent to school guidance counselors in the spring. Students start the program in late August and finish in May each year to coincide with their school schedules. The kick-off meeting for this year’s program was on August 21. This year activities have been implemented to give students an opportunity to get hands-on experience on what County Government offers. Some of the events include a leadership class with Director of Continuous Improvement Dr. Andrew Kester, volunteer activities at Rotary Park, meet and greet with our department heads and elected officials, and more.

This year’s participants are Abby Scoville (Clarksville Academy); Abigail Chambers (Montgomery Central); Abigail Fleming (Clarksville High); Abigail McKenna (APSU Middle College); Anna Hellums (Clarksville Academy); Braiden Jackson (West Creek High); Ella Roberts (Clarksville High); Ethan Caselli (Montgomery Central); Jerhen Jamison (Clarksville Academy); Katie French (Montgomery Central); Kenneth Reece (Montgomery Central); Kimora A. Rainey-Williams (Northeast High); Lindsay Lee (Rossview High); Mackenzie Prather (Rossview High); Madison Schwartz (Rossview High); Molly Scoville (Clarksville Academy); Nicholas Wojack (Kenwood High); Pheonix Brenner (Clarksville Christian); Sally Johnson (Northwest High); Sam Daughtery (Clarksville Christian); Trinity Smith (Clarksville High); Dillon Rich (Clarksville High); Nolan Woollen (ETC TCAT); and Wyatt Carobene (Clarksville Academy).

Not pictured: Alexis Perras (APSU Middle College) and Madison Schwartz (Rossview High).

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