Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:19 am

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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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:19 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Montgomery County Health Council (MCHC) recently completed a comprehensive update to its Mental Health Directory. In August 2019, the Montgomery County Health Council published its first Mental Health Directory, created by a team of council members and Austin Peay State University interns. The directory listed mental health resources in the community, including information on hours, provided services, and accepted insurance plans. Since then, the Health Council has recognized that the biggest problem with having a directory is that the information often changes by the time it’s published. So, this past year, they’ve worked to create a directory that can be updated and corrected more timely. 

The Health Council found that FindHelp.Org was the best online site to meet this need. To access the site, type in your zip code and click the search button. The toolbar has a menu of categories, and Mental Health is under the Health category. 

If your clinic or organization is not listed or you wish to update your services, you can add your organization and edit your services by clicking “Claim Programs’ at the bottom of the screen on the website. Here’s the link to Claim Programs.

Find Help.Org Can Also Connect You to Other Community Resources

Along with helping people find mental health providers and services, Find Help can also help connect people to organizations that help with housing, finding a dentist, marriage counseling, childcare, food pantries, specialty health care, etc. Council members have worked to raise awareness of how the everyday stressors of being disconnected from community resources threaten our physical and emotional security. 

“Think of water dripping from a downspout onto a concrete block. Over time, we start to see a weathering effect. Human beings are very similar,” said Joey Smith, Public Health Director of Montgomery County. “Most days, we are well-adjusted and demonstrate resiliency to the stress from our needs not being met. But over time, like water dripping onto a concrete surface, these stressors also have a weathering effect on our health,” said Smith.    

The MCHC intends to have hard copies of the directory at the library and with other partners.  

The MCHC is a volunteer organization that promotes health and wellness in the community. Members meet at noon on the third Tuesday of each month on the second floor of the Montgomery County Health Department. 

If you or anyone else is in a mental health crisis, call or text 988.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:18 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Montgomery County Government Offices will be closed Monday, September 2 in observance of the Labor Day federal holiday. All County offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 3 during normal operating hours. 

Although County offices are closed on Labor Day, some online services are available through the Montgomery County, Tennessee website. Click the Gov tab for a list of departments.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:31 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – On August 15, Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Continuing Education Program celebrated 15 individuals who successfully completed the APSU at MCEMS program as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). This group represents the third class to earn certifications since the collaboration between EMS and APSU began in 2021. 

Captain Mark Chandler, a District 1 Training Officer with Clarksville Fire & Rescue who participated, shared, “I expected to expand my knowledge in the emergency medical field and learn from what I hoped would be excellent instructors. January Bukowitz, Candice Silver, and their instructor cadre were excellent in providing education. I have served in emergency services and practiced emergency medicine for more than 30 years. I can say without reservation the course taught me new knowledge and skills to enable better patient care. This class did not disappoint and is an asset to Clarksville/Montgomery County.”

“We deeply appreciate our partnership with APSU. This program has helped us to open up a local opportunity for individuals interested in our field. I am always impressed by the level of professionalism and expertise of our instructors. We are blessed to have them as part of our team,” said Montgomery County EMS Director Chief Chris Proctor.

The next step in the process is for the 15 graduates to take their national cognitive written test to become licensed in Tennessee.

(EMTs) respond to emergency calls, perform medical services, and transport patients to medical facilities. The EMT course is a 14-week program provided through the Professional & Workforce Development Center division of APSU offering non-credit courses that do not require students to be enrolled in the university path.

For more information on the Professional & Workforce Development Center, please email pro-work-center@apsu.edu, call 931-221-7816, or visit www.apsu.edu/continuing-education.

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Last Edited: May 06, 2025 @ 8:25 am

Montgomery County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) had a record-breaking month in July with over 540 animals coming into their facility. This is an average of 20+ daily intakes. 

“We are overwhelmed with the number of animals entering our shelter. All of the fur babies that have come in have a family somewhere and we need help getting them home. It is like playing Jenga with these poor animals every day to find room and resources. The staff is overburdened and the animals are overwhelmed,” said Dave Kaske, Director of MCACC.

The County Shelter has 45 large dog kennels, 27 small dog/puppy kennels, and 85 cat kennels. The unprecedented influx of pets gives the Animal Control staff little room to house stray animals. Individuals missing a pet should post the lost pet on the social media pages listed below and visit the shelter at 616 N. Spring Street.

Adding to the challenges is the lack of an on-staff veterinarian. This prevents adoptable pets from getting spayed or neutered and going home the same day. More than 20 adopted animals are now waiting to be spayed or neutered at local veterinarian offices.

“The lack of reclaiming and the number of pets escaping their homes is exhausting our Animal Control team. I am also asking for the community’s help to share info about lost pets and I am confident our community will respond. Opening our new facility in fall 2025 with a veterinarian on staff will be invaluable,” said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A STRAY DOG

1. If you know the owner or their address, let them know their dog is loose/return their dog to them.
2. Check with neighbors to see if they recognize the dog and to whom it belongs.
3. Take recognizable photos of the pet and post them to one or more of the local Lost and Found Pet Facebook pages.
4. Complete a found pet report on the Animal Control Website www.mcgtn.org/animal-control with a photo of the pet.
5. If possible, have the pet scanned for a microchip at a local veterinary clinic.
6. If an owner cannot be immediately located, contact MCACC at 931-648-5750 and/or bring the pet to the shelter during business hours.
7. Pet owners should be able to verify such as photos, vet records, etc.

WHAT TO DO YOU DO IF YOU FIND A STRAY CAT
1. Leave them be. Cats are self-reliant and generally find their way home.
2. Leave stray feral/community cats in the field for a better chance of survival.
3. Kittens should be left alone because the mother is likely out hunting. Nursing kittens brought to the shelter will likely not survive without the mother.
4. If you locate a cat with a collar or other identification. Follow the same steps posting photos on the Lost and Found Pet Pages.

• Lost and Found Pets of Clarksville TN
  • (11) Lost and Found Pets of Clarksville Tennessee | Facebook
• Lost and Found Clarksville Montgomery Tennessee
  • (11) Lost and Found Clarksville Montgomery Tennessee | Facebook
• Lost and Found Pets of Christian and Surrounding Counties
  • (11) Lost and found pets of Christian and surrounding Counties | Facebook
• Clarksville/Ft. Campbell Lost ad Found Pets Local
  • (11) Clarksville/Ft. Campbell Lost And Found Pets Local | Facebook

MICROCHIPPING/SPAY/NEUTER

Spaying/neutering and microchipping pets is vital.  Lost pets without a microchip make it much more difficult for MCACC staff to reunite the pet with their family. Microchipping is a low-cost, non-invasive procedure, that takes only a few minutes to perform. Keep microchip information updated for faster reunification.

Spaying/neutering is also essential to help keep the stray pet population down. Many unwanted pets come to MCACC due to overbreeding and uncontrolled breeding.  Please spay/neuter your pet once it is old enough. The benefits greatly outweigh the risks.  

Visit https://mcgtn.org/animal-control for detailed info about MCACC, including volunteer possibilities, contact info, and hours of operation.

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