MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Last week, VA announced that the 37042 zip code leads the nation in Veteran PACT Act-related compensation benefits since the PACT Act became law in August 2022. Montgomery County has 33,670 veterans in the community, according to VA.gov, ranking 109th for total population and 19th for veteran percentage.

Since the PACT Act was enacted, the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, in partnership with Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization (MCVSO), has hosted two VetFest events to inform and sign up eligible Veterans for benefits. The latest was last week at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center where more than 700 Veterans were served. The first event took place in April 2023 at the William O. Beach Civic Hall when approximately 400 Veterans were in attendance. 

Montgomery County Director of Continuous Improvement Andrew Kester who formerly served as VSO Director stated, “Due to our success in reaching our Veterans, the VHA and VBA directors want to use the Clarksville, Montgomery County model to help other communities grow their numbers. This is a testimony to the support we’ve received from our community leaders and the collaborative efforts of veteran organizations like the Montgomery County Veterans Coalition, Austin Peay State University’s Newton Family Center, and Operation Stand Down.” 

“The importance of what Andrew Kester and the VSO team do for our community cannot be overstated. We are so grateful to have a team who wants the best for our military veterans and their families,” said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

Kester added, “VSO has grown from one part-time volunteer in 1944 to a 10-member team. Veterans contribute to our workforce, diversity, and economic vitality. In 2022 alone, more than $560 million dollars was brought into Montgomery County through veteran's benefits.”

For additional information and resources on the PACT Act, visit www.va.gov/pact. Information on the Montgomery County VSO can be found at mcgtn.org. 

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Montgomery County, TN – Sergeant Major (Ret) Hector Santos was welcomed by Montgomery County Commissioners and County leaders as the new Director of the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization at the August 14 Formal Commission meeting.

Sergeant Major Hector Santos retired from the United State Army on February 28, 2018, after serving 34 years, culminating with a four-year assignment as Inspector General United States Army, Military District of Washington, Washington D.C.

After retirement, Santos worked for the USO Pathfinder Program and the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program helping fellow service members transitioning out of the military and into civilian life. He currently serves as the Military Affiliated Career Specialist, Military and Veterans Affairs Division at Austin Peay State University. 

Santos holds a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and is a published photographer and writer.

“The interview with Hector was the best interview I’ve ever held. VSO is a vital resource for the military Veteran community so it needs an excellent leader. We knew we had big shoes to fill, and we feel strongly that we made the right decision by hiring Hector,” said Mayor Golden.

“I’m looking forward to working with the professionals in the Montgomery County VSO. They have made great strides for our Veterans over the years, and I will work to carry on their outstanding reputation locally and nationally. I believe every day is a new opportunity to help those who have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedom,” said Santos.

Santos and his wife of 31 years, Rebecca, moved to Montgomery County in 2017. Their son Kaden is a student at Tennessee Tech University. The other Santos family members include their Alaskan Malamute Artemis and Siberian Husky Fives. Santos enjoys spending time with family and is a self-proclaimed Disney Fanatic.

Santos will begin serving as the Director of VSO on October 2. He will replace Andrew Kester, who is now serving in the capacity of Director of Continuous Improvement.

For information about Montgomery County VSO, visit mcgtn.org.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – Eight local Clarksville-Montgomery County High School students recently represented Montgomery County in a residential Youth About Business camp at Vanderbilt University. The students were Kendal Baynham, Maria Prieto Cubillan, Juan Garcia, Anijah Hatten, Nicholas Hohenstein, Dev Shah, Lance Soberano, and Adam Stover. 

As part of Youth About Business's camp this year, participants were challenged to develop a pitch related to handling increasing solid waste despite decreasing landfill space. Each year the camp challenges high school youth with timely topics that affect Tennessee counties and requires them to come up with business solutions. During the camp, students gained access to business mentors and industry experts including accountants, attorneys, investment bankers, and marketing specialists who helped them understand complex business transactions. 

Each group developed visual presentations, financial strategies, and tactical methods to address our current solid waste problems and set up a more sustainable future. Students were partnered with well-known business corporations such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft to strengthen their initiatives and utilize technological advancements to elevate their projects to the next level. 

The week-long camp ended last Friday when the judges concluded that the winning idea was to create software called V.I.G.I.L. linked to cameras at landfills and solid waste facilities. This software would utilize thermal energy to detect lithium batteries, significantly reduce landfill damage, ensure employee safety, and notify supervisors of incoming materials.

“I was presented with the Youth About Business opportunity for students in late spring during a Greater Nashville Regional Council meeting. I accepted the challenge because I knew it could benefit our community and students. We had outstanding participation from students and our friends at Bi-County Solid Waste Management were 100% supportive,” said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

"I watched the students give their presentations. They clearly showed that students worked hard to quickly learn about the solid waste industry, and put their new knowledge to work with innovative solid waste ideas. It was refreshing to hear their ideas and see the thought processes to support them," said Bi-County Assistant Director of Administration and Education Mary Anderson. 

Montgomery County students Maria Prieto Cubillan, Nicholas Hohenstein, and Dev Shah who were part of the group selected for the best presentation and plan, flew to New York City less than one week after presenting in Nashville. On July 28, they joined peers from around the United States at the national summit in New York City. During the event, they competed against other teams to develop business plans for fitness centers. The Tennessee delegation's presentation was not selected as the final project, but the experience was unforgettable.

Youth About Business has over 25 years of experience in creating opportunities for high school students from all backgrounds to learn about the business world in a stimulating and interactive environment. According to their website, they have prepared over 8,000 students for college and career success.

Thank you to the students for presenting innovative ideas to reduce landfill waste. Students can carry the connections they made, the experiences they gained, and the business practices they learned throughout their lives.

Visit youthaboutbusiness.org to learn more about Youth About Business opportunities.

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Pictured Left to right in the group photo are Montgomery County students Lance Soberano, Kendal Baynham, Juan Garcia, Maria Prieto Cubillan, Nicholas Hohenstein, Adam Stover, Dev Shah, and Anijah Hatten.

Last Edited: July 29, 2023 @ 11:42 am

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. – The Recovery Court Division of the Montgomery County Adult Probation Department held a graduation ceremony last week in the County Commission Chambers to recognize 17 individuals who completed Recovery Court requirements.

While in the program, the 17 graduates, representing 6,196 sober days, had 2,133 drug screenings and completed 304.25 hours of community service. Two graduates also gave birth to drug-free babies while in the program; a third baby is coming soon. 

Following words of encouragement from County Mayor Wes Golden and City Mayor Joe Pitts, keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Loyd, an Internal Medicine/Addiction Medicine Physician, shared his journey to recovery with the graduates, participants, and supporters. Formerly an addict himself, Dr. Loyd has been free of opioids and benzodiazepines since 2004. He shared that we often overlook the fact that more Americans live in recovery than in addiction.

 “Our brain is divided into two parts: the reward area and the frontal lobe. With addiction, the reward part of the brain takes over and the frontal lobe, which helps to make good decisions, is lost. During recovery, the frontal lobe takes up to two years to return. Don’t look at addiction as a moral failure, but as something you can overcome. Relationships are the key,” Loyd explained.

Loyd told the graduates they were turtles on the fence, explaining that they did not overcome addiction on their own. He stated that it takes people like judges, mayors, law enforcement, the DA's Office, family, and others to help.

Dr. Loyd has served as an expert witness in more than 20 federal and state cases against physicians who improperly prescribed controlled substances. He 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. He was an original member (still active) of the Treatment of Chronic Pain Guidelines Committee that defines pain treatment for Tennessee healthcare providers. He has 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 was the 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. He serves as Chief Medical Officer for Cedar Recovery in Tennessee and is the inspiration for Michael Keaton’s character in Hulu’s Emmy Award-winning series Dopesick.

"The Recovery Court Team and I continue to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates. We are proud and excited about their futures. Graduates and participants have turned difficult roads into beautiful journeys. I am thankful for the support of this community in our efforts to reduce recidivism in the courts by using the recovery model. Dr. Loyd is an inspiration to us all and I am honored he was able to spend the afternoon with us. His story shows us that in the worst of times, there is still hope," Judge Sharon Massey Grimes shared.

The Montgomery County Adult Recovery Court Program is a voluntary court overseen by Judge Massey Grimes of the 19th Judicial District offered through the courts for residents involved in the criminal justice system with alcohol and/or other drug offenses. Participation in Recovery Court includes rigorous supervision, assistance accessing treatment, and aid with job placement to help participants successfully recover from addiction, abstain from drugs, and diminish incarceration expenses.

The Recovery Court Team is a diverse group of professionals dedicated to working 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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*Please note, not all graduates wanted photos and the names of those who did are identified as the photo title.

* The photo of the three ladies behind the podium are Cynthia Richards, Recovery Court Coordinator; Sherry Robertson, Director of Adult Probation and Judge Sharon Massey Grimes.

Montgomery County, TN – All offices at Veterans Plaza are closed, effective immediately due to a lack of electricity.  The Plaza and more than 1,000 households and businesses lost control at approximately 12:25. A tree came down on Central Avenue that caused issues with a power line.

It is unknown when power will be completely restored. All County offices at Veterans Plaza are expected to be open during regular business hours tomorrow.

For online services offered through Montgomery County Government, visit mcgtn.org.

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