MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Recovery Court Division of the Montgomery County Adult Probation Department held a graduation ceremony on July 24 to recognize 19 Recovery Court graduates. Together they accomplished nearly 8,000 sober days and completed almost 700 hours of community service. 

Following words of encouragement from Judge Sharon Massey Grimes of the 19th Judicial District, County Mayor Wes Golden, and City Mayor Joe Pitts, keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Loyd an Internal Medicine/Addiction Medicine Physician, shared highlights about his own journey to recovery with the graduates, participants, and supporters and discussed this importance of overcoming trauma. He praised the recovery treatment court teams and their dedication to helping the people they serve.

“The people who work in recovery court programs are special. They do not do these jobs for the money, they do it because they care about people,” said Loyd.

He encouraged participants to get the holistic help they may need to keep them from relapsing or hurting themselves. 

“Drug treatment changed my life. Trauma treatment saved my life,” Loyd said. “We use because of what’s going on inside of us. Reach out and ask for help. Any one of these people will be there for you. Take it to God and you will get even better,” he added

Dr. Loyd has served as an expert witness in more than 20 federal and state cases against physicians who improperly prescribed controlled substances and was named an Advocate for Action by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), an office of the President of the United States. He has delivered more than 500 educational lectures about addiction and prescribing controlled substances and worked as an Addiction Medicine Physician in inpatient and outpatient settings, specializing in caring for opioid-dependent pregnant women.

In addition to serving on multiple drug courts in Tennessee, Loyd is Vice-President of the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed him as Chair of the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council and served as Assistant Commissioner (Opioid Czar) for Substance Abuse Services with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services during Governor Bill Haslam’s administration. Dr. Loyd’s story inspired Michael Keaton’s character in the Emmy Award-winning series Dopesick.

Judge Grimes congratulated the graduates, thanked the Recovery Court Team members for their work, and shared her gratitude for the continued support from the County and City mayors, and law enforcement.

The Montgomery County Adult Recovery Court Program is a voluntary court overseen by Judge Grimes. It is offered through the courts for residents involved in the criminal justice system with alcohol and/or other drug offenses. Participation in the program includes rigorous supervision, assistance accessing treatment, and aid with job placement to help participants successfully recover from addiction.

The Recovery Court Team is a diverse group of professionals who work with community partners to support participants and their family members. The court offers two tracks and is funded partially under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and by participant fees and donations. 

For more information on the Adult Recovery Court Program, call 931-648-8702. 

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Caption for Recovery Group Supporter Photo: 

Captain Liane Wilson, Director Sherry Robertson, Judge Sharon Massey Grimes, Coordinator Cynthia Richards, Doctor Steven Loyd, Program Specialist Akira Brooks, Probation Officer Robin Yeager, Treatment Provider 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Montgomery County Trustee's Office will accept tax freeze applications through the April 5, 2025 deadline. This year, Montgomery County Commissioners approved an increased income limit of $60,000 per household. To be considered for the program, supporting documents must be submitted before the deadline date and applicants must be at least 65 years old by December 31, 2024.

The County Trustee’s Office administers the tax freeze program on their principal place of residence to help homeowners 65 and older who have a combined total 2023 annual household income limit of $60,000. Under the program, qualifying homeowners can "freeze" the tax due on their property, at the amount on the year they qualify, even if the tax rate or appraisal increases at a later date. 

Annual income from all sources shall include but is not limited to social security payments after the Medicare deduction, social security disability, supplemental security income, retirement, and pension benefits after the deduction of health care insurance premiums, veteran’s benefits, worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation, salaries and wages, alimony, total interest, and total dividends. 

“We are one of 27 counties in Tennessee that participate in the tax freeze program. It is an honor to serve our residents and help keep home ownership affordable for our seniors,” said Montgomery County Trustee Kimberly Wiggins.

The Trustee’s Office is located at 350 Pageant Lane in Suite 101-B. To see available services, including paying taxes online through the County Trustee office, visit mcgtn.org or call 931-648-5717 with questions. 

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Last Edited: July 23, 2024 @ 10:28 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TENN – Approximately 90 people gathered in the afternoon heat to celebrate the revitalization of Stokes Field at a groundbreaking ceremony on July 17 as youth football practice took place in the background.

Stokes Field opened in 1969 after Nelson Stokes, Eddie Schrecker, and Jim Howell pitched in $4,700 for the field and equipment. It served the community for five decades with up to 1,500 youth using the baseball and softball fields at the height of its use. Over the last 10 years, the field fell into disrepair resulting in a lack of use by the community.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden shared some history about the field’s namesake. “This field was named after Nelson Stokes, a man who served people his entire life. Nelson was a WWII, Army Veteran who settled in Montgomery County in 1946. He grew up playing baseball in the cornfields of Kentucky and vowed that if he could, he would help youngsters have a better place to play. For five decades Stokes Field brought joy to many families. We are excited to work with our school system to bring that joy back to the community.”

In August 2019, Montgomery County Parks & Recreation and the County Engineering Department held a public input meeting at New Providence Middle School to discuss plans for Stokes Field.

“We have seen different versions of this project and hit many roadblocks, but I stand here in front of you today,” said Montgomery County Parks & Recreation Director Sally Read, “with a design that meets our community’s needs and a budget that fully funds it.” 

County Engineers Nick Powell and Hunter Staggs, Jimmy Bagwell with Moore Designs, Brad Martin of Lyle, Cook, and Martin along with the Rock City Construction team were recognized for their involvement. Read also thanked former Mayor Durrett for beginning the process in 2019 while Mayor Golden was thanked for his continued support along with the county commissioners, the Parks & Recreation team, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.

“We know people have great stories and memories about time spent on this field. Please share your photos and stories by sending them to [email protected] through February 2025. Our plan is to create a mural with the photos. This was an idea brought to me by Commissioner Lankford,” added Read.

Commissioner Jeremiah Walker picked up the mantel for Stokes Field from his predecessor former Commissioner James Lewis. 

“This is an investment in our youth. If we do not invest in our youth now, believe me when I tell you we will invest in them later on down the road. It may not be an investment we want to make later,” said Walker.

Commissioner Walker, also a Baptist preacher, wrapped up by using the story of Lazarus as an analogy for Stokes Field, explaining that the field got sick and even died. He stated that now is the time for the field to come back to life.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/mcgtn/videos/1633225140800034 to see the full ceremony.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TENN – The first County Connections event will be hosted at Downtown Commons on July 25 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. 

The event, which was presented by County Parks & Recreation Director Sally Read, is an opportunity to talk to people who serve the residents of Montgomery County through their work in local government, to gain better knowledge of the difference in services between county and city government, and have fun.

“We understand our residents are sometimes confused about the services provided by Montgomery County and the City of Clarksville, so we thought this would be an enjoyable way to learn. I am thrilled with the number of County offices and departments that signed up to participate,” said Read. 

County services will be showcased, live music will be played, and the lawn games will be out during the event. Montgomery County Animal Care and Control will have the adoption trailer onsite, and children can also enjoy our County Touch-A-Truck section, featuring equipment from EMS, the Highway Department, Parks and Recreation, and the Sheriff's Office. For those who want to grab a bite, Wolf Down will be open, Driving You Donuts will be onsite, and various local downtown restaurants are available.

The County Connections event is free and open to the public.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Teya Moore was recently selected for the newly created position of juvenile resource coordinator in Juvenile Court. Moore will be responsible for coordinating community-based services to help prevent children and youth from further involvement in the juvenile justice system by screening and working to provide resources to at-risk children and their families. She will also act as a liaison for various community partners and agencies. 

Moore is an experienced human services professional with a strong background in managing organizations, military personnel, and social service agencies. She has a proven track record of coordinating and maintaining positive relationships with multidisciplinary teams, providing comprehensive case management services, and evaluating program effectiveness. 

Before joining Montgomery County, Moore was the program coordinator for Catholic Charities in Clarksville. She also has experience working for Clarksville Housing Authority, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Soldier Transition Assistance Program, and Goodwill Career Solutions (Employment and Training).

She earned a Master of Science in Human Services with a specialization in Social and Community Services and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.

"I’m grateful Mayor Golden suggested moving forward with the hiring for this vital position to work with our youth and families. Teya has hit the ground running and has already proved to be a great asset to our team," expressed Juvenile Court Director Edward Moss.

“I am eager to work with the Juvenile Court team, agencies, and community partners to support our families and youth. When I met with the juvenile court team and other County leaders during the hiring process, it was obvious they truly cared about our youth,” said Moore.

For information on Montgomery County Government Juvenile Court, visit https://mcgtn.org/juvenile.

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