Last Edited: September 22, 2026 @ 2:28 pm

Montgomery County Parks and Recreation is excited to bring back BBQ Fest Across the River presented by First Federal Bank to RichEllen Park on October 9–10, 2026. The two-day celebration will take place Friday from 5:00–9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 

This community-focused event brings together BBQ lovers, live music, food trucks, football, family fun and now a corn hole tournament in one unforgettable weekend. Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or just hungry for great food and good times, this is the event you won't want to miss. 

Calling All Pitmasters 
Do you have what it takes to be crowned BBQ royalty? Join us for a BBQ Contest at RichEllen Park, where teams show off their grilling chops for fun, bragging rights, and cash prizes! Judging takes place on Saturday, October 10 — rain or shine. 

Teams are encouraged to participate in the People’s Choice, where meat is provided and the public votes for their favorite.  

People's Choice Tasting 
While entry to the festival is free, foodies won’t want to miss the chance to sample BBQ straight from the competitors! Wyatt Johnson’s People’s Choice tasting tickets are available for $10 and allow you to try delicious BBQ and vote for your favorite. 

Tasting begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 10. If you want to stick around to see who wins, the awards ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m.  

Corn Hole Tournament 
New to the festival lineup this year is a Corn Hole Tournament, sponsored by Providence Builders! On Saturday, October 10, teams will go head-to-head in a friendly but competitive battle for bragging rights, cash prizes, and ultimate corn hole glory. 

To register for the BBQ competition, corn hole tournament, or to purchase a ticket for People’s Choice tasting visit montgomerytn.gov/parks/bbq-fest.

This event is made possible through the generous support of First Federal Bank, Hilltop Supermarket & Pharmacy, Visit Clarksville, and Montgomery County Parks and Recreation. 

All proceeds from BBQ Fest Across the River will benefit the Tri-County Sportsman’s Association, supporting local youth and community programs. 

For more information, visit montgomerytn.gov/parks/bbq-fest, follow us on Facebook, or call 931-648-5732. 

Montgomery County is proud to announce the launch of its first public grant opportunity using opioid settlement funds. Local nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for funding to support eligible opioid prevention, treatment, recovery, and abatement efforts. 

A total of $250,000 has been allocated for this program to address current and prevent future negative impact from opioid and other substance misuse in Montgomery County.  

Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit organization serving Montgomery County; must not supplant existing funds with a grant request; and must align with the State of Tennessee’s Opioid Remediation Guidelines published by the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Committee.  

Opioid funding must be used in accordance with Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Guidelines for opioid prevention, treatment, recovery, overdose response, education, and related community support services. 

All application instructions, reference materials, and other required documents will be available on the Accounts and Budgets webpage on September 21 at (montgomerytn.gov/account-budget/opioid-settlement-funding). The deadline for all submissions is November 2 at 4:00 CST. 

“We’re grateful to be able to put these funds back into the community and expand opportunities for local nonprofit organizations that are helping our residents and families impacted by the opioid crisis. We know this funding helps them continue that work and reach even more people who need it,” said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.  

For more information about the public opioid funding application cycle, contact Spencer Taylor, Grant Analyst with Montgomery County, at 931-648-5705 or [email protected]. 

The Montgomery County Department of Preservation of Records (The Archives Department) will be closed from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18, for a staff development event. The office will resume normal operations and reopen at 1:30 p.m.

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

Last Edited: September 08, 2026 @ 8:44 am

The Montgomery County Veterans Service Office (MCVSO) will be closed from Tuesday, September 8 to Tuesday, September 15, to allow staff to participate in mandatory training provided by the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. This training enables team members to remain up to date on the latest policies, benefits, and resources available to better serve local veterans and their families.

The MCVSO will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 15, at 1 p.m. For more services from MCVSO, visit https://mcgtn.org/vso

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program (CMCGCP) welcomed 10 more organizations to its second 2026 recertification class on August 26, bringing together local businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and other community organizations committed to continually improving their operations and stewardship of community resources.

The organizations participating in this recertification process include:

• CEMC / Cumberland Connect
• Clarksville Department of Building & Facilities
• Clarksville Fencing
• Clarksville Gas & Water
• Clarksville Parks & Recreation
• Fortera Credit Union
• Furniture Connection
• North Central Institute
• Publix 
• Sango Eye Care

Each organization previously earned CMCGCP certification and is now working toward recertification by reaffirming its commitment, providing updates on its facilities and operations, and documenting practices and improvements implemented since its previous certification.

"The Program is about recognizing organizations that are making a meaningful difference while helping them discover new opportunities to save resources and reduce costs," said Michelle Newell, CMCGCP Manager. "I am excited to serve these organizations – with professionals I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for many years as well as those who are newer to their organizations. Learning from them, connecting them with resources and one another, and celebrating the positive impact they are making is a joy."

 The class featured local professionals sharing practical information and resources organizations can use to strengthen their operations and build upon previous accomplishments.

 Eric Sims, CMCSS Energy Services Manager, shared lessons from his manufacturing background and discussed the importance of identifying the root cause of problems when evaluating operations and pursuing improvements.

Levon Gibson, CDE Energy Solutions Specialist, highlighted energy-efficiency programs and opportunities to help organizations conserve energy and reduce operating costs.

Matthew Galibert, Regional Planning Commission Planner, discussed thoughtful community planning and opportunities for organizations and residents to participate in the planning process.

Michelle Newell, CMCGCP Manager, also shared information on behalf of Bi-County Solid Waste Management, including an overview of local landfill operations and the nine convenience centers located throughout the County, as well as opportunities to make informed decisions about waste reduction and resource management.

“Recertification gives us an opportunity to look at what has changed, celebrate what organizations have accomplished and ask, ‘What can we do next?’” Newell said. “That continued improvement is what makes this program valuable—not only for individual organizations, but for our entire community.”

The next CMCGCP Recertification Class will be held in fall 2026, with the date to be announces. Organizations interested in becoming newly certified or renewing an existing certification are encouraged to participate. 

About the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program
The CMCGCP recognizes businesses, nonprofits, schools, and government entities that demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship through practical efforts such as resource conservation, waste reduction, operational efficiency and community leadership. Made possible through the leadership and support of Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden and Bi-County Solid Waste Management, CMCGCP encourages organizations to be thoughtful stewards of resources, pursue responsible and efficient practices, and share their successes with others throughout the community.

Good for Business. Good for the Community. Good for the Future.
For more information, visit https://montgomerytn.gov/green, contact Michelle Newell at [email protected], or call 931-245-1867.