On June 25, the Recovery Court Division of the Montgomery County Adult Probation Department held a graduation ceremony to recognize individuals who completed the program and to celebrate 20 years of providing services. Alongside the ceremony, the team also honored the late Judge Ray Grimes for leading Recovery Court. The 20 graduates had a combined total of 7,523 sober days and completed 2,129 hours of community service work.

In addition to the ceremony, the team honored the late Judge Ray Grimes, whose vision inspired the creation of the first drug court operating out of Montgomery County.  Judge Ray Grimes led the Recovery Court from the planning and implementation phase in 2014 until his passing in 2020.  The team also recognized original team member and advocate, the late William ‘Bill’ Cloud, who served until his passing in 2015.  Families for Judge Ray Grimes and Bill Cloud lit candles at the beginning of the ceremony in recognition of the light that continues to shine brightly in the lives of those impacted by their years of committed service.

Following the welcome and ceremony by Recovery Court Judge Sharon Massey Grimes, County Mayor Wes Golden and City Mayor Joe Pitts offered words of encouragement to the graduates. Keynote speaker Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2) Nick Lavery shared highlights about the graduates, participants, and supporters and spoke about the importance of overcoming obstacles and never giving up. 

CW2 Lavery is an Active-duty Green Beret within The United States Army Special Forces. He is the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee, the first amputee in military history to complete the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification course, the Special Operations Combatives Program Instructor course, and the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification course. Judge Grimes congratulated the graduates and thanked the Recovery Court Team, County and City mayors, and law enforcement for their support.  Grimes also acknowledged the program Director, Sherry Robertson, for 20 years of service to the team.

The Montgomery County Adult Recovery Court Program became a certified Recovery Court in 2009 and is a voluntary program for residents with alcohol and drug offenses, providing rigorous supervision, treatment access, and job placement assistance to aid in recovery.  The program accepted its first participant on June 15, 2005, and held its first graduation in August 2006.  Team members completed the DUI Academy in Athens, GA, in 2015 and added the DUI Track the same year.

The multi-disciplinary Recovery Court Team works with community partners to support participants and their families. The Adult Recovery Court program is funded by a grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, as well as from Drug Treatment Court Act fines, Opioid Abatement Funds, participant fees, and community donations.

To learn more about the Adult Recovery Court Program, visit montgomerytn.gov/adult-probation.

To refer an individual complete the referral form.

Montgomery County Government, in coordination with the City of Clarksville Street Department, will be partially closing 2nd Street between Franklin Street and Commerce Street starting at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, to facilitate roof replacement on the Historic Courthouse. Traffic will be directed to one lane, and on-street parking spaces along 2nd Street will be closed. The roadway is anticipated to be open to all traffic by 2:00 p.m.

 A crane and associated equipment that will be used as part of this replacement will partially block this segment of the street, parking, and the sidewalk.

Drivers should be aware of this lane closure downtown and plan alternate routes.

Last Edited: July 29, 2025 @ 8:23 am

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) set up to assist residents who experienced damage or losses from the April 2025 severe weather and flooding will close on Friday, August 1st. The center is located at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 501, Clarksville, TN 37040. Representatives are available Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

All individuals who experienced damage or losses from the severe weather event are strongly encouraged to visit a DRC and speak with a representative about the assistance that may be available. Those eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) program may receive help with rental assistance, home repair, and personal property replacement, in addition to other uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. 

FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) applications can be completed online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by phone at 1-800-621-3362, through the FEMA mobile app, or in person at a Disaster Recovery Center. Documents you will need to provide to FEMA include proof of identification, an insurance determination letter, and proof of occupancy or ownership. The deadline for applications for Individual Assistance is August 19, 2025.

For questions or more information, call the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency at 931-648-5702.

Montgomery County Government, in coordination with the City of Clarksville Street Department, will be partially closing 2nd Street between Franklin Street and Commerce Street starting at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, to facilitate roof replacement on the Historic Courthouse. Traffic will be directed to one lane, and on-street parking spaces along 2nd Street will be closed. The roadway is anticipated to be open to all traffic by 5:00 p.m.

A crane and associated equipment that will be used as part of this replacement will partially block this segment of the street, parking, and the sidewalk.

Drivers should be aware of this lane closure downtown and plan alternate routes.

Montgomery County Parks and Recreation celebrated National Ice Cream Day a little early with a free, family-friendly community event on Saturday, July 19, at Brigham Park. The event brought together more than 100 residents for an afternoon of treats, activities, and the launch of a new initiative to bring summer fun to different county parks each year. 

Dairy Queen of Riverside Drive delighted attendees by handing out free ice cream to guests. Promoting literacy was also a key part of the day, with Imagination Library of Montgomery County, Tennessee providing free books for children and hosting a Story Book Trail Adventure—an interactive reading experience inspiring kids to explore and engage with story book trail. 

In addition to books and ice cream, local youth received free basketballs, thanks to a generous donation from Academy Sports, encouraging them to enjoy Brigham Park’s basketball courts. A highlight of the day was the appearance of Austin Peay State University Men’s Basketball players, who joined the event to shoot hoops with kids, offering inspiration, mentorship, and unforgettable memories for young fans. 

“I am incredibly proud of what Montgomery County has created at Brigham Park—one of our most charming pocket parks. Inspired by health department data showing high obesity and illiteracy rates in this area, the county transformed excess county property into a space that promotes both exercise and reading through a walking trail and a storybook trail,” said District 5 Montgomery County Commissioner, Rashidah Leverett. “Our recent ice cream social was a great way to welcome families to the space, and I am so grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life—especially Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, Mayor Wes Golden, Dairy Queen, the APSU basketball team, the Imagination Library, and Pastor Brigham. I am excited for the future of Brigham Park and all it will offer the families of District 5.” 

This event also marked the beginning of a new annual tradition to host an ice cream party at a different Montgomery County Park each summer. The goal is to promote local partnerships, encourage community engagement, and create accessible, family-focused fun across the region. 

“Celebrating National Ice Cream Day was the perfect way to introduce this new initiative,” said Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Director Sally Read. “We’re excited to continue bringing families together through creative and meaningful events in our beautiful parks.” 

For more information about Montgomery County Parks and Recreation or future events, visit montgomerycountytn.gov/parks.