Last Edited: August 12, 2026 @ 9:40 am

Experience the wonder of one of nature's smallest and most fascinating creatures at Montgomery County Parks and Recreation’s annual Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Rotary Park, 2308 Rotary Park Drive. This free, family-friendly event celebrates hummingbirds and other important pollinators with interactive demonstrations, educational presentations, and activities for all ages. 

Sponsored by the Southeastern Avian Research Institute and the Warioto Audubon Society, the festival's signature attraction is live hummingbird trapping and banding conducted by a master bird bander. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to see hummingbirds up close while learning how researchers safely band the birds to collect valuable migration and population data. 

In addition to the live banding demonstrations, attendees can enjoy: 

• Activities inside the Wade Bourne Nature Center 
• Educational presentations from pollinator experts 
• Hands-on crafts 
• Face painting 
• Temporary tattoo station 

Food will be available for purchase from local vendors, including Fresh Squeeze TN, Kadi's Tacos & More, and Bondi Bowls. 

Parking Information: 
Festival parking will be available at the entrance to Rotary Park, where guests will be shuttled into the event. Parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible parking will be available near the Wade Bourne Nature Center. 

The Hummingbird Festival is free and open to the public, making it a perfect opportunity for families, bird enthusiasts, and nature lovers to discover the incredible world of hummingbirds and the pollinators that help keep our ecosystems thriving. 

For more information, follow Montgomery County TN Parks and Recreation on Facebook or visit montgomerytn.gov/parks. 

Last Edited: August 06, 2026 @ 9:24 am

Montgomery County is pleased to announce Brian Rives as the new Director of the 19th Judicial District Mental Health Court in Montgomery County.

The 19th Judicial District Mental Health Court provides specialized treatment and support for justice-involved individuals with mental illness. By combining accountability with access to treatment and community resources, the program helps reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and support participants on their path to recovery and long-term success.

Rives brings more than two decades of experience in criminal justice, probation and parole, court operations, and community supervision. Before joining Montgomery County, he served as a Probation and Parole Manager with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, overseeing officers serving multiple Middle Tennessee counties. Rives has also previously managed probation and parole units based in Clarksville and has extensive experience working with the local judiciary and individuals transitioning from the court system into community supervision.

Rives is also well acquainted with Montgomery County's court system, having previously served as the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Court Liaison, where he coordinated between the courts and the Montgomery County Jail.

He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration, graduating cum laude from Bethel University, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University, where he majored in sociology and minored in psychology.

In addition to his professional experience, Rives has remained active in the community, including serving on the Austin Peay State University National Alumni Association Board and the Montgomery/Robertson Community Corrections Advisory Board.

A Montgomery County native, he and his wife, Denise, have deep ties to the community and are proud parents of Knox and Lily, both of whom attend Austin Peay State University.

“We are excited for Director Rives to bring his decades of experience in criminal justice to our program. Director Rives believes in the mission of recovery courts and has a heart for service that will benefit our participants,” said Circuit Court Judge, 19th Judicial District, Katy Olita.

To learn more about the 19th Judicial District Mental Health Court, visit montgomerytn.gov/mental-health-court.

After years of community interest, composting is taking its first small steps in Montgomery County through two pilot programs designed to evaluate whether the service is practical, cost-effective, and supported by residents.

The City of Clarksville began offering compost collection in July during the Clarksville Downtown Market each Saturday through October 3. In addition, Bi-County Solid Waste launched a six-month composting pilot on July 30 with two collection containers at the Sango Convenience Center, the busiest convenience center in Montgomery County.

Both programs are intended to determine whether composting can help divert organic waste from the landfill while making responsible use of existing resources. Just as importantly, the pilot programs will help determine whether the service provides enough value to justify future expansion.

"The opportunity was offered to us at no cost, so the board agreed a pilot program made good sense," said Bi-County Solid Waste Executive Director Mark Neblett. "Over the next six months, we'll evaluate how residents use the service, whether materials are placed in the bins correctly, and whether it reduces the amount of waste going into the landfill. Those results will help our board determine whether expanding the program is a wise investment."

Clarksville Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Letourneau said the Farmers Market has been a natural place to introduce composting.  "This is a service I've hoped to offer for quite some time," Letourneau said. "Starting at the Farmers Market allows us to introduce the program on a manageable scale while giving residents an easy way to participate. If the community supports it and uses it properly, it could grow into something even more beneficial."

The pilot programs grew out of conversations facilitated through the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program (CMCGCP), which brought together representatives from Montgomery County, the City of Clarksville, and The Compost Company to explore practical ways to expand local waste diversion opportunities through voluntary community partnerships.

“I’m thrilled the County and City chose to move forward with these projects,” said CMCCP Manager Michelle Newell. “This is an important first step toward keeping organic materials out of our landfill and putting them to better use. Composting transforms what was once considered waste into a beneficial product that is sold to support healthier soil and creates opportunities for job growth.”

Community Participation Will Determine Success

The future of both composting programs depends entirely on community participation and proper use.

Because these are pilot programs, contamination is major concern. If trash, plastics, glass, or other prohibited materials are mixed with compostable items, entire loads may be rejected, resulting in additional disposal costs that could jeopardize the future of the program.

Residents are encouraged to place only approved compostable materials in the collection bins, including:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds and paper filters
• Leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste
• Food-soiled paper products, including pizza boxes

"The success of this program depends on everyone doing their part," Neblett said. "If residents use the containers correctly, we'll have good information to determine whether composting is something our community wants and can support responsibly."

Clay Ezell, owner of The Compost Company, said bringing the service home is especially meaningful. "I'm excited to launch this service in our hometown," Ezell said. "Almost our entire staff lives in Clarksville. We've provided composting services for Metro Nashville convenience centers for years and expanded into Ashland City, but serving our own community is especially rewarding. We hope residents will give the program a try and help make it successful."

The Compost Company, based in Ashland City, partners with communities throughout Middle Tennessee to collect food scraps and organic materials, converting them into nutrient-rich compost used to improve soil, reduce waste, and put valuable organic material back to work.

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center has once again demonstrated its commitment to resource stewardship by earning Gold Level recertification this July through the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program.

Led by Facilities Manager Eric Shanley, the museum successfully met the program's sustainability standards by demonstrating leadership through continuous improvement and wise operational practices.

"The whole team has been on board, bringing forward initiatives to reuse items and reduce what we send to the landfill," Shanley said. "The great part is that these efforts help us save money, allowing us to keep our focus on serving the community."

To achieve recertification, the museum, originally recognized in 2017, completed several new sustainability initiatives, including an updated energy audit, expanded native landscaping, and additional waste reduction measures that decreased the frequency of garbage pickups.

The museum also conducted a water quality analysis of its municipal water supply, confirming it met high-quality standards. The results reinforced an important solutions message: municipal tap water is tested more frequently and held to stricter safety standards than bottled water, making plastic water bottles an unnecessary source of waste for the organization.

Customs House Executive Director Frank Lott, who was unable to attend the recognition ceremony, praised the organization's continued commitment to sustainability.

"I am proud of our organization and our continued conservation efforts in the community," Lott said.

During the presentation, Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden thanked the Customs House staff for their dedication to good stewardship and shared some of the County's efforts, including the establishment of a tree farm at Fredonia that will help add to the tree canopy on County properties.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program is a voluntary environmental recognition program administered by Montgomery County Government that helps organizations integrate sustainable business practices into their daily operations. Participants complete a comprehensive assessment in areas including energy conservation, water stewardship, waste reduction and recycling, pollution prevention, transportation, landscaping, purchasing, and community engagement. Organizations that meet established sustainability benchmarks are recognized at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level.

Originally launched in 2011, the program was reintroduced in 2025 under the leadership of Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden as part of the County's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development. Today, the program brings together businesses, industries, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies working to reduce their environmental impact while improving operational efficiency and serving as community leaders in sustainability. 

Good for Business. Good for the Community. Good for the Future.

Organizations interested in becoming Green Certified or learning more about the program may contact Montgomery County Government's Green Certification Program Manager at 931-245-1867 or manewell@montgomerytn.org. 

The next Green Certification class is scheduled for August 26, 2026.

Celebrate the final days of summer at Montgomery County Parks and Recreation's first Back to School Splash on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Civitan Park, 350 Bellamy Lane. This free, community-wide event is designed to bring families together for one last splash before the new school year begins. 

Guests can cool off with a variety of exciting water attractions on the Lacrosse Field, including giant water inflatables, a toddler splash zone, and a foam party running from noon to 3 p.m. 

One of the day's highlights is the Reverse Water Parade, taking place from 1 to 2 p.m. in the parking lot. Instead of watching floats roll by,  attendees will walk a designated route past stationary emergency and public service vehicles from the Montgomery County Fire Department, Montgomery County EMS, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery County Highway Department. As families make their way through the parade, each vehicle will spray water, creating a fun and refreshing way for everyone to beat the summer heat.  

The fun continues with a Balloon Battle at 2 p.m. for participants ages 8 and older. No registration is required—just bring your enthusiasm and get ready for a friendly water balloon showdown.

Food trucks will also be on site throughout the event with food available for purchase, including Bondi Bowls, Doodles Panini, Pop and Dogs, and Fross Boss, making it easy for families to enjoy lunch while spending the day at the park. 

The Back to School Splash is free and open to the public, offering the perfect opportunity for families to make lasting summer memories before heading back to the classroom. 

For more information, follow Montgomery County TN Parks and Recreation on Facebook or visit montgomerytn.gov/parks.