Washington – In the Obama Administration’s continued effort to stimulate community development and job growth, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $620 million to over 500 communities across the country through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). To view the list the full list of grantees receiving funding under this program, visit HUD’s Recovery Act website. Tennessee will receive over $13 million (see attached list).

The Recovery Act made available a total of $1 billion through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. On July 16th, HUD announced the first round of grants under this program to nearly 700 communities, totaling $360 million. With today’s announcement, all $1 billion are now in the hands of communities, working to create jobs and revitalize neighborhoods.

“Today, I am proud to announce that HUD has moved quickly to obligate more than $10 billion in Recovery Act funds,” said Donovan. “Nearly three quarters of our Recovery Act funds are now available to communities across the country and are being put to work creating jobs, making homes more energy efficient, and strengthening neighborhoods.”

CDBG enables state and local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing and create economic opportunities. Under the Recovery Act, recipients give priority to prudent and responsible projects for which contracts through a bidding process within 120 days of the grant agreement.

HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively, with the goal of generating tens of thousands of jobs and helping the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis. The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, most of which is funneled through existing programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant program. Nearly 75 percent of that funding was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law. Now, just over six months later, HUD has obligated, or awarded, nearly 75 percent of that funding to states and communities across the country. $10 billion out of $13.6 billion is now in the hands of grantees, available for spending.

President Obama directed all Recovery Act funding to be spent responsibly and in a transparent manner in order to provide a necessary economic boost, create jobs, and strengthen America’s middle class. In a letter to CDBG recipients of Recovery Act funds, Donovan wrote, “In accepting these funds, it is imperative that you be good stewards of these precious taxpayer dollars by focusing your efforts on the Recovery Act goals of investing in infrastructure that will create or sustain jobs in the near-term and generate maximum economic benefits in the long-term.”

Since 1974, CDBG has provided more than $127 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities. The rehabilitation of affordable housing and the construction and improvement of public facilities have traditionally been the largest uses of CDBG funds, although the program is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities. Annual CDBG funds are distributed to communities according to statutory formulas based on population, poverty, pre-1940 housing stock, growth lag, and housing overcrowding.

Secretary Donovan and the Department are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD’s Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD’s funding notices and tracking of future performance of these grants is also available at HUD’s Recovery Act website.

Tennessee amounts

• Bristol: $62,790
• Chattanooga: $465,678
• Clarksville: $215,046
• Cleveland: $89,967
• Franklin City: $73,348
• Jackson: $157,518
• Johnson City: $131,467
• Kingsport: $109,233
• Knox County: $270,573
• Knoxville: $504,654
• Memphis: $2,177,302
• Morristown: $78,824
• Murfreesboro: $169,316
• Nashville-Davidson: $1,316,347
• Oak Ridge: $68,498
• Shelby County: $276,897
• State of Tennessee: $7,095,627

About the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

The House Democrat Review is a weekly feature that gives Tennesseans an in-depth look at what our Democratic state legislators have been working on this week, and a glimpse into what’s planned for the coming week at our state house. This week:

• Unemployment
• Education

House Democrats sponsor bill to let unemployed go back to school

Legislation allows laid off workers to retain unemployment benefits while going back to school

NASHVILLE – On Thursday, State Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville), along with all present members of the Tennessee House of Representatives, voted to give laid off Tennesseans the ability to go back to school without losing their unemployment.

“There are tens of thousands of Tennesseans who have lost their jobs during this economic slowdown and currently they can’t go back to school without losing the one thing keeping them from being out on the street,” said Pitts. “We should be helping these people retrain for the jobs of tomorrow, not forcing them to choose between a roof over their head or the classes they need to succeed in tomorrow’s economy.”

Under the legislation sponsored by State Representatives Joe Towns (D-Memphis), G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) and Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville), a person who is currently receiving unemployment benefits due to losing their job would not be denied those benefits if they choose to go back to college while they continue their search for new employment.

“We have people of every age and background no longer able to find work because their skills don’t match the available jobs,” said Pitts. “This legislation allows people to gain the skills they need without having to sacrifice the only source of income available to them.”

The bill passed the House unanimously 96-0 and will now wait on the Senate to take action on the measure. Earlier this month the bill was placed in the General Subcommittee of Commerce, Labor and Agriculture. The United States Congress is also slated to take up similar legislation later this year.

Tennessee House of Representatives Chambers

NASHVILLE –The House has voted to bring thousands of new jobs to Tennessee with the passage of a bill that guarantees incentive grants for Volkswagen and Hemlock, two companies scheduled to build new manufacturing facilities in Chattanooga and Clarksville.

“As many states in our nation struggle to survive this current financial crisis, we in Tennessee continue to lure new job opportunities to our state and provide a light at the end of this dark economic tunnel,” said State Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville).

The new Volkswagen car manufacturing facility will be located in the Enterprise South Industrial Park, located 12 miles northeast of downtown Chattanooga. With the new plant, Volkswagen is expected to create about 2,000 direct jobs, and will add a significant number of jobs in related sectors. The 1,350-acre site is expected to have an initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, with production scheduled to begin in early 2011.

Hemlock Semiconductor, one of the world’s largest makers of polycrystalline silicon for solar cells and semiconductor chips, is investing $1.2 billion in corporate investments to Clarksville. The new plant is expected to bring over 500 jobs directly to the area, with a potential for related jobs throughout the region.

“These investments are giving Tennessee a fighting chance at beginning our economic recovery,” said Pitts. “We have to continue to work to bring more companies to our state and show them why our citizens continue to be some of the best workers in the world.” The bill passed overwhelmingly in the House by a vote of 88-7-2.

Legislature Passes Bill to Protect State Jobs
Also on Monday, the House and Senate passed key legislation designed to protect state workers from mass layoffs while still giving the governor opportunities to make necessary budget cuts.

Clarksville Greyhounds Youth Football League

The Clarksville Greyhounds Youth Football League is forming teams for the 2009 football season. The League has  four age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. There will also be cheerleaders for each age group.

The Clarksville Greyhounds are a member of the Tennessee Youth Football Alliance. They are traveling teams and will play teams from various areas throughout Middle Tennessee.

The TYFA is a very competitive league and have had players and cheerleaders recognized nationally for academics and athletics. This program includes opportunities to compete in regional and national competitions.

If you are interested in  administrating, coaching, or being a cheerleader supervisor, please send an email to or call 931-472-6101 for more information.

Update: There will be an information booth at Governor’s Square Mall on April 25th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Laying of the wreath

Rivers and Spires kicked off today with a wreath laying and symbolic re-lighting of the eternal flame. The flame honors our soldiers serving over seas and lights the path for them to return home. This annual remembrance kicks off three days of food, fun, entertainment, and shopping in historic downtown Clarksville, TN.

The award winning festival is organized by the City of Clarksville, Montgomery County Tennessee, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and is co-sponsored by many area businesses.

The evening’s entertainment started with the Can Creation Challenge at 4:30p.m. This event challenges local teams to put together sculptures based on a theme with the winning team picking a local charity to benefit from their $500 prize. Afterwards the building materials were donated to a local food bank.

Following that at 5:15 p.m. ten faculty members from APSU got to perform in a talent competition which was judged by their students.

Josh LaCount Band

Afterward the Josh LaCount Band took the stage. The band projects solid vocals, and does great things with a guitar. The band is on MySpace, Their music is available on iTunes, and you can view their music videos on Youtube.

Check out the video to Josh’s song Way down.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Andy Grammer

Andy Grammer

They were followed by Andy Grammer a young man with quite a vocal repertory. His warmth and personality draw you into the sphere that his music creates and you feel at once welcome and comfortable with his expressions and sound. He utilizes a music style that combines beat box, mouth trumpeting and vocals. His performance drew strongly from his album- “Andy Grammer Live- Soft lights on Bright Colors.” As Andy tells it, “I think from the second I start beat boxing and mouth trumpeting its clear this is going to be done a little differently!” And he doesn’t disappoint.

An iTunes reviewer had this to say:

“Andy takes pride in tackling the issues we all face in life and singing about them with “brutal honesty.” His lyrics are deep, clean, and meaningful; his sound is positive and encouraging. If you liked John Mayer in his early career, then you will love Andy.”

His EP album is available on iTunes, but to get his newest album “Soft lights on bright colors” like I just did you will have to go and visit his web site. You can also watch his videos on Youtube.

Here’s his video Second Hand Smoke

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jason Reeves

Jason Reeves

Folk singer Jason Reeves closed out the night. When you listen to Jason sing you can tell he puts his heart and soul into his music. He draws you into his music and his world. Jason has four albums available for purchase on iTunes. Each of his songs is easily capable of standing alone, you can’t say that for many artists. His MySpace page is exceptionally well designed.

In case you missed him, check out this Jason Reeves and Colbie Caillat video titled Permanent

Click here to view the embedded video.

All the acts on the opening night of the 2009 Rivers and Spires deserve a spot in your music collection, so go and check them out!

The festivities continue tomorrow at 5:30pm

Photo Gallery

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Upcoming Schedule

Ronald William Bartlett Jr.

On March 9,  officers responded to an armed robbery of Regions Bank on Riverside Drive.  The suspect, later identified as Ronald William Bartlett Jr. (W/M), 33, listed as homeless, entered the bank, walked up to the teller, and passed her a note demanding money.  The teller said that Bartlett made a motion toward his pocket, making the teller believe that he was armed.  Bartlett took the money and fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.  A witness followed Bartlett and saw him get into a car parked at a nearby business. 

The witness relayed the vehicle and tag description to officers on the scene who had the information disseminated over the Police radio.   The vehicle was initially spotted by Deputy Austion and a city officer on the parking lot of the Quick Stop in the Greenwood Avenue area.  Bartlett was refueling his 1993 Mercury at the time.  When officers attempted to approach Bartlett, he entered his vehicle and fled.  Bartlett lead several, Clarksville, Montgomery County, and Cheatham County officers on a vehicle chase which finally ended in Cheatham county on Chapmansboro Road, when Bartlett’s vehicle went off the road into the dirt. Bartlett was taken in custody by Clarksville officers without incident or injury.

Bartlett admitted to taking the money from the bank.  All the bank’s money was recovered and returned except for the money Bartlett used to refuel his vehicle.

Ronald William Bartlett Jr. has a long history of criminal activity.

“For almost a year I’ve been listening to the needs of our neighbors and families and loss is on everybody’s mind– loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of health insurance, loss of retirement security. I know that tough times call for leadership that lifts us up and brings us together,” she added.

“I’m running for governor because I believe I can bring Tennessee together, and I know that together we can do more than just make it through – we can make it better.”

McMillan filed papers to establish an exploratory committee for the 2010 governor’s campaign last spring. “The people of Clarksville and Montgomery County have been good to me and that’s why I met with my hometown paper to make my intentions clear. I want to make sure they know that I’m in this race and I’m in it all the way.”

McMillan teaches political science at APSU.

Over the next 5 years a half a billion dollars in job training money will be coming to Clarksville. Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC) will open a new plant in Clarksville that will hire over 1,000 construction workers to build, and provide over 800 permanent high paying jobs when they open. HSC will be one of the richest employers in Clarksville’s history since the arrival of Fort Campbell in the 1940s.

Under the President’s Economic Recovery Bill, states and counties are poised to receive significant federal funding to stimulate the economy and put people back to work.

To learn more about the coming opportunities, join in a Community Discussion titled  “How Will President Obama’s Economic Recovery Bill Affect the African American Community?” to be held on  March 5 at the Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, from 6-8 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the Urban Resource Center and its director,   Terry McMoore, in partnership with the Center for Community Change.

New job opportunities for targeted populations include high school graduates, college graduates, veterans or members of the reserve forces, homeless individuals, non-violent ex-felons, and low-income individuals.

These are some of the questions:

• Pastors: Are you educated enough on the new job issues to help your congregation?
• Business Owners: Do you know the steps in getting funding for training under the Green Jobs Act?
• Community: Are you prepared to have a place at the table right now while there are still jobs and money available?

How and what this money is spent on is important to the survival of our communities; these are the jobs of the future and they pay good salaries. Don’t wait until the last minute.

According to the City of Clarksville website:

“There is a change in the payment of 2008 property taxes that is significantly different from prior tax years. In tax years prior to the 2008 tax year you had until May 31 to pay the property taxes due, for the tax year 2008 the property taxes must be paid on or before February 28, 2009. The 2008 property taxes will be come delinquent on March 1, 2009. This change was necessary to better coordinate the property tax files and the administration of the city’s tax freeze and state tax relief program on a basis consistent with that of Montgomery County. To avoid interest and penalty for the tax year 2008, the payment of 2008 property taxes must be on or before February 28, 2009.”

The concert, titled “A Gift of Music,” will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 10 in the Music/Mass Communication Building Concert Hall. The concert is free to the public.The performance will feature Valerie Oyen-Larsen, mezzo-soprano; Phi Mu Alpha men’s chorus singing barbershop quartets led by Mario Kee; Jazz Combo led by David Steinquest; VocalEase jazz choral group led by Oyen-Larsen; and Thomas and Vicki King performing love song favorites.

For more information, contact the APSU Department of Music, (931) 221-7818.

CAMTAN is the local organization assisting individuals affected by the HIV pandemic within our own demographic. an IRS certified local 501 (C) 3 non-profit in need of community support.

As 2008 comes to a close, consider making a tax-deductible donation to this Clarksville-based non-profit. Started by a small collective of local ministerial leaders and lay people, the Clarksville Area Ministers Technical Assistance Network (CAMTAN) seeks to provide assistance, support and education to persons affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the greater community.

While Metro-Nashville has Nashville Cares, MICTAN, the Ryan White Foundation, Operation Stand Down Nashville-Street Front, a transportation funding grant from the Nashville United Way and a array of philanthropic foundations: Clarksville, Montgomery County, Dover, Stewart County, Erin, Houston County, Charlotte, Dickson, Dickson County, Springfield, Robertson County, Cumberland City, and other outlying areas must relay on the limited resources provided by a small collective of churches and a few private individuals, with which CAMTAN seeks to address the physical and psychological stresses that can accompany an HIV/AIDS infection.

Rev. James W. Hill Jr., pastor of Greenwood C.M. Baptist Church, serves as the Senior Executive Director of this all volunteer effort. Rev. Hill has attended numerous training seminars with the Nashville United Way -Ryan White Foundation, Operation Stand Down Nashville, the MICTAN initiative and Tennessee Dept. of Health to become certified as a HIV/AIDS counselor-facilitator.

MICTAN is the much larger and better funded Metro-Nashville equivalent of CAMTAN- a faith-based fellowship ministry to those impacted by the HIV/AIDS virus. These efforts are non-judgmental and focus on assisting the client in stabilizing their lives in the areas of housing, medication, counseling, personal relationships, fellowship and employment sustainability and include a general community health education outreach. Of the five county service area, Clarksville leads with the highest number of STDs and HIV transmission cases. The need for education and awareness is real and growing. CAMTAN is seeking to raise funding so that they can hire a case manager, a secretary and a driver and stabilize their client medical appointment transportation support system.

Rev. Timothy Grant- CAMTAN booth, 2008 African Street Festival

CAMTAN has participated in and sponsored several health fairs over the past years in an effort to increase community awareness of the various and diverse health issues confronting our collective communities. Information is available on cancer- be it either female or male breast cancer, colo-rectal or prostate cancer, cervical cancer or testicular cancer. Additionally diabetes, hypertension, obesity and weight control, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), depression and other mental health issues are all matters that CAMTAN seeks to aide the community in understanding and confronting. All of these health concerns are also of concern to individuals confronting an HIV/AIDS infection, along with issues of homelessness, abandonment and physical or domestic abuse. CAMTAN seeks to educate the community to raise the level of awareness and understanding of these issues and improve the public’s preventive posture addressing these concerns. It also seeks to provide assistance to those confronting an HIV/AIDS infection and/or the consequences of such an infection upon the client or family members.

Donations, both monetary and in-kind services, may be sent to: CAMTAN, 1325 Dodd Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Receipts will be sent acknowledging all donations for tax reporting purposes. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return receipt. Rev. Hill is also available to speak with interested groups and coordinate CAMTAN participation in health fairs and other community events. Contact CAMTAN at 931-249-4262/552-3611. Send e-mail to: .

The tree was sheared off several days ago in a prior windstorm which “snapped” its center pole in half, leaving the elegant tree resembling a Christmas shrub.

Repaired, it was set back in place just in time for Christmas when another round of storms, which included torrential rains and heavy wind, delivered a second knock out punch.

On Christmas Eve, the tree, which is elaborately decorated and a shining Christmas star of the downtown holiday season, appeared bent in half, it star pointed into the ground.

Wednesday’s storm also triggered small random power outages across the city and created heavy ponding and minor flooding.

In what is hopefully to become an annual event, the Port Royal Historic State Park, now listed as an official Trail of Tears Park, staged their Lantern History Tour. The tour was not a Halloween fright-type of celebration, but rather an effort to share the history of this most under-appreciated area of Montgomery County and it’s contributions to Clarksville’s history. The Lantern Tour is the result of the combined efforts of The Friends of Port Royal and the Port Royal Park staff and supporters. The event, which was free to the public, ended with a roaring bonfire, toasted marshmallows and hot cider.

Col. John Montgomery

Entering the park along and down the candle-lit pathway, visitors first encounter a Longhunter, Colonel John Montgomery, played by Michael Ramsey, an APSU student and volunteer at Mansker Station in Goodlettsville. The colonel’s story relates experiences of his life spent trapping in Port Royal and exploration of the region in 1771. Leaving the colonel with his trusty long rifle, visitors move further on into the park, guided by illuminated mini-torch baggettes.

Next on the trail is an early settler woman, Susannah McFadden, portrayed by Silvia Britton, also a Mansker Station volunteer. Susannah relates the experience of living on the new frontier, its hardships, her surprises and her experiences of taking pioneers into the new frontier of 1790. She is an unusual entity, being a woman frontier guide in 1790.

The woods are thick, as next, Doctor George Hopson welcomes visitors to his encampment. He bids everyone gather round close. Portrayed by Sam Reed in true period dress, the doctor authors the one truly spooky element of the tour, the events, history and legend of the Bell Family and the Bell Witch. It’s best to hear these details directly from the good doctor. It’s said she listens out for her name.

Having bid the doctor thanks, the path next leads to a truly sorrowful acknowledge of mankind wronged by fellow man. Clad in leggings, with cap and rifle, puffing on a long stemmed pipe, with his Native American wife and her mother, a Scottish trading post merchant who married a Cherokee woman and refused to abandon her and his children, tells of how they were forced onto the Trail of Tears in 1838. Portrayed by “Red” Kirby, Virginia Moore and Philenese Slaughter, respectively, the saga of having been given land and a promise of ownership unto perpetuity by General Jackson himself, having then built a trading store business and started a family, he lost it all when the forced relocation of the Native American Nations of North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama forced itself upon his little corner of the world. Refusing to abandon his Cherokee wife and children, he was stripped of his property and they were made part of the Trail of Tears to the Oklahoma Territory out West. As this saga ends, we leave their encampment with the low-burning fire and the women wrapped in their diseased-infected blankets, looking forlornly back to the East, to their Tennessee hill country home.

Leaving the fading embers of the Trail of Tears fire, next one progresses up the path to encounter next the unfortunate, or unscrupulous, A.D. Carden, a primary commissioner of Port Royal’s silk mill venture. Carden is portrayed by Michael Fullbright, a seasonal interpretative ranger with Dunbar Cave Park. Carden tells of how the silk mill business started out, proving quite profitable and how the commissioners decided it prudent to upgrade their operation, entrusted Mr. Carden with $30,000 to purchase the new machinery in England. However, Carden disappeared afterwards without a trace, never to be heard from again and with no explanation to the commissioners. As they had entrusted him with the sum of their money, the mill operation failed. Carden’s fortunes and fate remain unresolved. [Ed. Note: State Archives record note no silk mill operation in Port Royal, only an attempt to start to one which failed when Carden disappeared with the funds.]

As Mr. Carden fades back into the dark towards a rustic bridge, the tour moves out towards the park’s interpretive center. Illuminated by the glow of kerosene lamps on a wooden writing table, Henry Winter, portrayed by Tim Henson, historian, begins to talk of the 1900 to 1915 time known as The Tobacco Wars. These turbulent years in Tennessee and Kentucky focused on efforts of tobacco farmers to be paid decent prices for their tobacco crops and the market manipulation tactics of the tobacco giants to suppress the prices. Southerns are, by habit, resistant to unions and organized groups, however the farmers saw joining together as their only recourse in the battle the tobacco companies waged.

Voluntarily membership was their ploy, at first, but as the tobacco companies began to apply strong-arm tactics and persuasion, the farmers’ groups resorted to violent enlistment and compliance. These intimidating groups rode across the region at night and thus were known as Night Riders. They launched attacks on the tobacco companies warehouses and threatened area farmers with violence and physical harm if they did not join the association or if they sought to make separate deals with the tobacco companies. There were white and black Night Rider groups, as the South was still very much a segregated society, even in the farm land. The Tobacco Wars made an already difficult life even more desperate as every aspect of the economic and social life of the people was impacted by the shortage of funds and the inability to pay debts or even pay tithes to the local churches.

Leaving the interpretative center, head for the bonfire and refreshments of mulled cider and toasted marshmallows. The warmth of the fire is a perfect setting for questioning the re-enactors for more details of their histories and that of Port Royal and Adams. Make plans for next year’s Lantern Tour of Port Royal State Historic Trail of Tears Park and learn a bit of the history of our community firsthand.

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A wide variety of locally grown perennials, priced to sell, will be available along with advice and growing tips from Tennessee Master Gardeners.

For more information, contact  931-647-4328 or

The Trail of Tears Commemorative Day will lead off the Native Cultural Circle’s annual Inter-Tribal PowWow. The Port Royal site is the only remaining uncovered segment of the original trail in Tennessee.

October 11 and 12th. Mark your calendars. The second weekend of October is just around the corner. That means the Native Cultural Circle’s Inter-Tribal PowWow is here. Every year the group hosts the annual two-day powwow as a means of educating the general public about Tennessee’s native peoples traditions, culture and customs.

Clarksville is blessed, in that the powwow site has truly historic significance, because it is staged adjacent to last remaining uncovered segment of the Trail of Tears in Tennessee. The land is included in the Port Royal State Historic Park, where the quiet beauty of the area is well suited to the occasion.

This year’s PowWow will feature traditional songs and dance; host drum is the White Horse Singers, along with 18 vendors, a silent auction, and native grown organic popcorn. All drums and the general public are welcome.

Last year, a commemorative walk celebrated the National Parks Service designating the trail segment as an authentic Trail of Tears site. Over 100 native people turned out for the walk, many wearing native regalia. State and local government officials spoke at the observance acknowledging the solemnity of the occasion and its truthful place in American history. Park Ranger David Britton greeted Native American leaders and elders, exchanged flags and read a state proclamation. Representatives from the Tennessee Indian Commission and Montgomery County government also participated in the ceremony.

Port Royal Park Ranger David Britton

Park Ranger David Britton announced Wednesday that the National Parks Service has now designated Port Royal State Park as an official Trail of Tears Historic Park. For this year’s powwow celebration, on Saturday, October 11th, at 10 AM, there will be a re-enactment of the march through the town of Port Royal. There will also be re-enactments of 1830’s domestic skills and medicine. Visitors will be able to sample the foods the Native Americans were actually provided during their encampment. Additionally, guided historical tours throughout the park will be conducted and there will be exhibits on the Trail of Tears and the Town of Port Royal. When visitors have completed their tour of the park, they are encouraged to come over to the Inter-Tribal Powwow Grounds and continue their discovery of Tennessee’s Native peoples culture.

For more information on the Trail of Tears Commemorative Day, contact Port Royal State Park Office, 931-358-9696. The park office is located at 3300 Old Clarksville-Springfield Road.