Montgomery County, TN – On Monday, April 24, a 550-gallon aquarium, paid for by the Wade Bourne Nature Center (WBNC) Foundation, was delivered to the Nature Center and administrative building for the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department. The aquarium was brought by Exotic Aquatic and installed by Craneworks. 

“It was pretty remarkable to watch them maneuver this enormous fish tank into the corner of the center. The WBNC Board, me and my staff are excited about finishing the tank and making it ready for the public to enjoy. We will need help from the community to keep moving forward,” stated Parks and Recreation Director Sally Burchett.

The public can assist in stocking the tank and future learning activities by buying tickets for the Stock the Tank Event on Thursday, May 11. Details can be found at https://bit.ly/3HlGFoB.

“Although the tank is in place, the aquarium is not expected to be fully ready until this summer. Balancing the pH levels of the water to prepare for the fish and introducing the species a few at a time is part of the process,” added Burchett.

The tank will be home to five species of native fish in the Cumberland River, including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Catfish, Bluegill, and Crappy. 

The WBNC Foundation, named in honor of Montgomery County outdoor sportswriter and conservationist Wade Bourne, works with Montgomery County Parks and Recreation to provide services at the WNBC that encourage learning and engagement opportunities for visitors of all ages to learn more about natural history and conservation. 

For more information about WBNC, call 931-648-5732.

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Last Edited: April 25, 2023 @ 1:11 pm

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Effective today, the Montgomery County Trustee's Office is moving into a temporary location on the Crossland Avenue side of Veterans Plaza, where the Tennessee Department of Human Services was formerly housed. The temporary address is 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 301. 

Services provided by the Trustee's Office will not be affected during the move. The relocation is due to flooring removal and installation, which may take two to three months based on suppliers and materials. 

"We will not skip a beat in serving our residents during this time and are grateful for this project. The floors have been in place since Veterans Plaza was remodeled in the 1990s and need replacement," said Montgomery County Trustee Kimberly Wiggins. 

For immediate or online services, you can visit their website at https://mcgtn.org/trustee.

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Clarksville, Montgomery County, TN — Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden and City of Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts signed a joint proclamation designating April as Distracted Driver Awareness Month at the request of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Safety Task Force. 

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the proclamation states there were 477 distracted driving crashes in 2022 and 10,446 crashes in Clarksville, Montgomery County, between 2011 to 2022. Talking on a mobile phone, even in hands-free mode, texting, and programming a dashboard infotainment system or GPS device diverts attention away from driving and results in physical or cognitive distraction. 

Cell phones are the leading cause of distracted driving, creating enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes reported to involve a distracted driver.

On average, whenever people look down at their phones, they travel the distance of an entire football field. According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, distracted driving is driving while engaged in activities that divert the driver’s attention from the road. There are three forms of driving: cognitive, visual, and manual. Texting and driving is extremely dangerous because it involves all three forms of distracted driving. From a financial standpoint, motor vehicle crashes in Tennessee create an economic toll of $450 million annually. 

Data gathered by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security from February 2022 to January 2023 showed that a crash that involved a distracted driver occurred nearly every 25 minutes and 16 seconds. In 2019, the state of Tennessee established a law banning the use of handheld devices while driving. This law, known as the Hands-free law, prevents drivers from holding a cell phone or any other electronic device that can distract drivers.

“We lose too many people on our roads due to distracted driving. Focusing on the road and those around us is something that we can all improve on. One accident involving distracted driving is one too many, and far too many families have suffered a loss due to actions that can be controlled,” said Mayor Golden.

“Distracted driving results in accidents with other vehicles and pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and road workers. Not long after taking office, a man drove his truck through a work area on Riverside Drive, killing a valued member of our team who was out there just doing his job. To tell a family they had lost their loved one like that is tragic,” lamented Mayor Pitts.

Each week in April, Montgomery County Government and the City of Clarksville shares interviews on their social media pages with local and state law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), giving their views and experience with increasing driver safety and behavior incidents in the community.

“Our Traffic Safety Task Force appreciates the support from our County and City mayors to make our roads safer. We can improve by changing habits, like leaving earlier and practicing patience. These are simple practices our law enforcement friends preach repeatedly. We people to heed their advice for the safety of everyone on the roads,” said Montgomery County Driver Safety Administrator Lisa McClain.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Traffic Safety Task Force is made up of representatives from the Clarksville Police Department (CPD), Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), and Clarksville, Montgomery County (CMCSS) and Montgomery County Driver Safety Administrator Lisa McClain.

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Montgomery County, TN – Due to the temporary closure of Bi-County Solid Waste Management's Construction & Demolition Landfill at 4577 Guthrie Highway effective April 20, traffic at the main landfill at 3212 Dover Road is expected to increase significantly and cause intermittent congestion for at least 30 days.

The traffic uptick will be primarily due to the big trucks bringing construction debris that would have gone to the construction landfill. To prepare for the additional traffic, Bi-County Leadership has coordinated with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) to lead the effort on traffic control.

MCSO Captain William Wall, head of the Uniform Patrols Bureau, stated, "Drivers need to be aware that they must slow down, and at times, may have to come to a complete stop near the landfill. I would hate to see anyone hurt, especially with so many big trucks. The best trait people can practice during this time is patience."

Message boards from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Montgomery County Highway Department are temporarily located on Dover Road. Sheriff's Patrol Deputies will also be in front of the landfill to help keep traffic flowing.

"Drivers who frequently travel this road will need to make a major adjustment while we receive higher than normal volumes of waste. Our biggest concern is for the safety of people traveling up and down Dover Road. We know this is a temporary inconvenience, but it will improve things in the long run," said Director of Bi-County Solid Waste Management Mark Neblett.

The closure of the construction landfill will allow for soil movement and cell construction in preparation for the Landfill Expansion Permit issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). 

Prep work at the construction landfill is expected to be finished within 30 days but scheduling will depend on weather conditions and other external factors. The expansion is anticipated to extend the site's life another nine to 12 years. The temporary shutdown will not affect the ability of Montgomery County or Stewart County residents or businesses to dispose of debris.

Trucks with shingle trailers will be accepted at the main landfill, only from people with a Montgomery or Stewart County driver's license, effective April 20, 2023, until further notice. Drivers will be requested to show their license.

If you have any questions, please call 931-648-5751.

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Montgomery County, TN — Montgomery County Director of Emergency Medical Services Chief William Webb announces his retirement on May 12, 2023. Webb has served Montgomery County for more than 30 years. He worked his way up through serving in several capacities, from an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to Paramedic, Emergency department Paramedic, EMS training officer, assistant chief of administration, and promoted to Chief of Emergency Medical Services in 2018.

“Working in emergency services is a calling. I’m grateful I chose this path and that I was able to work with some of the best people in the field for so many years. Montgomery County has an incredible team of 130 medical professionals ready and committed to the community. I will miss my EMS family but I am also excited about the next chapter,” said Webb.

Assistant EMS Chief of Operations Chris Proctor will serve as the interim director until the position is filled. Proctor has more than 27 years of experience with Montgomery County EMS.

“I am grateful for the years of service Chief Webb has dedicated to our team. We’ve worked together for a long time and have been through some remarkable experiences and changes in the field and in life. I wish him nothing but the best,” stated Director of Emergency Services Chief Jimmie Edwards. 

Upon retirement, Webb will begin working as a medical sales representative in the private sector.

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