Get ready for a night of music, motorcycles, and community spirit as Montgomery County Parks and Recreation presents the next Downtown @ Sundown concert, featuring Kid Kentucky, a Kid Rock tribute band, on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the Downtown Commons. 

Before the concert, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, Bikers Who Care, YAIPak, and Appleton Harley-Davidson are teaming up for a Mini Toy Run to help spread holiday joy to children in need. 

Mini Toy Run Details: 

• Kickstands up at 6:00 PM from Appleton Harley-Davidson (2501 Hwy 41A, Clarksville). 
• Riders will travel down Hwy 41-A to Riverside Drive, turn right on Commerce St, then left onto 3rd St, arriving at Downtown Commons. 
• All donated toys will go to YAIPak to help bring Christmas cheer to local children this holiday season. 
• Not a rider? Bring a toy donation directly to the Downtown @ Sundown concert! YAIPak will be on-site to collect the toys. 
• Motorcycles will arrive around 6:45 pm, and live music will begin at 7:00 pm, featuring a Kid Rock tribute band, Kid Kentucky. 

The evening will feature a variety of delicious food and drink options. Beer and other beverages will be available for purchase, with the following food trucks set up on Main Street: 

• Kadi’s Tacos 
• Fryz Wit Dat 
• Burgasm 
• E’s Squeezed Lemonade 
• L.A. Street Dogs 

The Downtown @ Sundown Concert Series is free and open to the public, running select Fridays from May through October. Bring your chairs and blankets for a night under the stars, but please leave pets, coolers, smoking/vaping products, and outside alcohol at home. 

Downtown @ Sundown is proudly brought to you by Tristar Beverage Clarksville. For more information and the full 2026 concert lineup, visit Montgomery County Parks and Recreation. 

Photo Credit: ClarksvilleNow; The 41st Annual Bikers Who Care Toy Run to support Camp Rainbow and BWC Children's Charities on Sep. 17, 2022. (Lee Erwin) 

We are buzzing with excitement in Montgomery County! On Tuesday, August 18, the Imagination Library of Montgomery County (ILMC) Bee-Lieve in Literacy: Adult Spelling Bee Showdown will once again take center stage at the Customs House Museum, 200 S. 2nd Street. The event begins with a reception and silent auction at 5 p.m. and the spelling bee kicking off at 6 p.m.

Local teams will compete for the coveted title of Ultimate Spellers of Montgomery County, but spelling is only part of the fun. Team spirit counts, too, so expect costumes, chants, and sound effects. To keep the competition lively, attendees can even influence the judges, adding another layer of fun to the competition.

Leading this year's hive of supporters is the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville, returning as the event's Queen Bee Sponsor with a generous $12,000 contribution, reflecting the club's longstanding commitment to early literacy. 

“The Imagination Library of Montgomery County, like Kiwanis, supports the advancement of literacy and quality of life for children from birth until they turn five, which helps them learn and be better prepared for school,” said Larry Schmidt, president of the Clarksville Kiwanis Club of Clarksville. “We are honored to once again be the lead sponsor for the Spelling Bee fundraiser that puts thousands of books into the hands of children every month.”

This year's judges are former County Mayor Jim Durrett, radio host Lee Irwin, and Economic Development Council Project Manager Janet Wilson, who will be watching spelling closely while remaining open to a few sweet "financial incentives" along the way - all for children's books, of course. 

Keeping the evening buzzing are emcees Kimberly Wiggins, County Trustee, known for her sharp wit and community involvement, and Kevin Kennedy, nationally recognized on TikTok and locally known as the face of The Kennedy Law Firm. 

Tickets are for those 21 and older and can be purchased through the QR code below. To become a sponsor, get printed tickets, or support the ILMC, contact event co-chairs Julie Runyon at jcrunyon@mcgtn.net or Michelle Newell at manewell@mcgtn.net .

Every dollar raised helps provide free books each month to local children from birth to age five, building early literacy skills, home libraries, and a lifelong love of reading.

Whether you're competing, sponsoring a team, bidding in the silent auction, or cheering from the audience, the Bee-Lieve in Literacy: Adult Spelling Bee Showdown promises an unforgettable evening of laughter, friendly competition, and community generosity —all to help give every child the opportunity to begin school ready to succeed.

About the Imagination Library of Montgomery County: The Imagination Library of Montgomery County provides free, high-quality books each month to more than 9,000 local children from birth to age five, fostering early literacy and a lifelong love of reading through the generosity of community partners, donors, and volunteers.

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Last Edited: July 01, 2026 @ 7:02 pm

Montgomery County Government offices will be closed beginning at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 2, in observance of the Independence Day holiday due to increased traffic, road closures, and event equipment moving throughout the downtown area. All County offices will reopen on Monday, July 6, during normal operating hours. Please check with individual departments for specific service changes during holiday hours. Public safety services will continue as usual.

As you celebrate, remember to thank the first responders, public safety personnel, and event staff working hard to keep the festivities safe and running smoothly. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Independence Day as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

For online services available through Montgomery County Government, visit the GOV tab at montgomerytn.gov.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of National Safety Month, recognized each June by the National Safety Council, the Montgomery County Risk Management Department, in partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, hosted a Safety Training Day at Civic Hall focused on practical, hands-on learning to strengthen employee safety awareness, preparedness, and situational response.

Organized by Montgomery County Director of Risk Management, Jennifer Hood, the training brought together more than 50 Montgomery County employees from 22 departments for instruction led by Sheriff's Office trainers. Participants learned safety skills, effective communication, and de-escalation techniques to help them respond confidently in workplace and public-facing situations.

Sheriff’s Office instructors Patricia Patterson and David Corder, guided by Mark Wojnarek, led demonstrations and exercises on essential law enforcement tools, techniques, and safety procedures, including the use of Tasers, OC spray, batons, de-escalation scenarios, and correctional emergency response equipment.

• A conducted energy device (Taser) demonstration, with participants observing and engaging in a controlled training exercise.
• An oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray overview to illustrate its effects and appropriate use.
• Baton training demonstrations using padded equipment to demonstrate impact and safety considerations.
• Interactive de-escalation scenarios that allowed participants to practice communication and decision-making strategies in challenging situations.
• A display of correctional emergency response equipment, with explanations of its purpose and use within correctional facilities.

Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions throughout the session, gaining insight into how law enforcement professionals evaluate situations and apply safety protocols in the field.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of hands-on learning of safety concepts to help employees better understand the realities of decision-making under pressure.

“Hands-on training like this gives employees a clearer understanding of safety tools and techniques while reinforcing how important communication and awareness are in preventing escalation, and our strong partnership with the Sheriff’s Office allows us to offer valuable, real-world perspectives that support our workforce in a meaningful way,” said Ginger Hood, from the Montgomery County Risk Management Department.

This Safety Day Training demonstrates Montgomery County’s commitment to employee readiness by offering real-world safety strategies that provide staff with practical skills to respond effectively to emergencies. 

For more about the Montgomery County Safety and Risk Management Department, visit https://montgomerytn.gov/risk-management.

Last Edited: June 24, 2026 @ 4:14 pm

The Montgomery County Health Council is proud to announce it has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the 2026 AARP Community Challenge program, with funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, to implement pedestrian safety, placemaking, and beautification improvements near the intersections of Crossland Avenue and Pageant Lane, Highway Drive and Pageant Lane, and Richardson Road and Crossland Avenue. The project will strengthen connections between Moore Magnet Elementary School, Veterans Plaza, the Montgomery County Public Library, the Senior Citizens Center, and surrounding neighborhoods, creating safer and more welcoming spaces for residents of all ages and abilities.

Through community engagement, walk audits, and corridor assessments, the Montgomery County Health Council and its partners identified opportunities to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and neighborhood connectivity throughout the project area. The grant will support improvements that make it easier and safer for residents to access schools, public facilities, and community gathering spaces.

"This project demonstrates what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision," said Karen Reynolds, Chair of the Montgomery County Health Council and Project Manager for the Walk Audit Project. "The improvements funded through this grant were shaped by residents and community stakeholders who participated in walk audits and shared their ideas for creating safer, more welcoming spaces. I am grateful to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and support, and I look forward to continuing this work together."

The project was developed through a partnership led by the Montgomery County Health Council and Replant Clarksville, which serves as the project's fiscal sponsor. Additional partners include Montgomery County Government, the City of Clarksville, Clarksville Strong Towns, the Arts and Heritage Development Council, Austin Peay State University, neighborhood stakeholders, and numerous community organizations and volunteers whose participation helped identify priorities and shape the proposed improvements.

Planned corridor enhancements include:

• Installation of enhanced crosswalks at key school and pedestrian crossings
• Public art enhancements to strengthen community identity and create more welcoming public spaces
• Tree planting and native landscaping to provide shade, improve comfort for pedestrians, and enhance the corridor's appearance
• Cleanup, beautification, and placemaking improvements to create more attractive and inviting public spaces

The project supports broader efforts to improve mobility, encourage active transportation, and create safer routes between Moore Magnet Elementary School, Veterans Plaza, the Montgomery County Public Library, the Senior Citizens Center, and surrounding neighborhoods.

"We appreciate the Montgomery County Health Council's leadership in pursuing this opportunity and look forward to supporting these efforts that will improve walkability and quality of life for the residents who live in and use that area," said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

Additional details regarding project implementation and volunteer opportunities will be announced as work progresses.

This project was funded by a grant from AARP with funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America.

With funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, the AARP Community Challenge grant program is expanding its investment in pedestrian safety projects that improve street design, enhance mobility, and promote pedestrian safety for people of all ages.

About the Montgomery County Health Council
The Montgomery County Health Council serves as a collaborative forum for organizations, agencies, and residents working to improve health outcomes and quality of life throughout Montgomery County. The Council identifies community priorities, fosters partnerships, and supports projects that address the social, environmental, and economic factors that influence health, including access to safe transportation, healthy neighborhoods, and community resources.

About the AARP Community Challenge 
The AARP Community Challenge grant program supports projects that improve public places, housing, transportation, digital connectivity, disaster resilience, and more. In 2026, Toyota Motor North America is funding pedestrian safety projects that aim to enhance streets and sidewalks nationwide. Microsoft is supporting digital connections projects aimed at expanding access to and adoption of high-speed internet (broadband). These grants are part of AARP’s broader Livable Communities initiative, which helps neighborhoods, towns, cities, and counties across the country become great places for people of all ages. 

AARP believes communities should offer: 
• Safe, walkable streets 
• Affordable and accessible housing and transportation options 
• Access to essential services 
• Opportunities for residents to engage and participate fully in community life 

To explore all 750 projects funded this year – or to view an interactive map of current and past Community Challenge projects – visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge. Learn more about AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities work at AARP.org/Livable.

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