Hosted by Chaplain Ted Denny of the Sheriff’s Department,  “First Responders” will cover stories and interviews with leaders in the community involved with emergency situations.  The inaugural launch of “First Responders” will feature our very own Sheriff Norman Lewis.  Tune in to hear about his background and the inner workings of the Sheriff’s Department.  Chaplain Denny commented, “I am personally honored to be hosting this new local program and that it serves our community.”

Future programs will not only delve deeper into the Sheriff’s Department, but all of Clarksville’s emergency departments; Police, Fire, Ambulance.  Other community leaders like Mayors Piper and Bowers, will be invited from time to time to discuss how our overall governments deal with all types of emergencies.  “Helping to educate our citizens is a primary goal for this new program and at The New TV9 we are dedicated to strengthening families and the community at large,” said Dan Calderon, Owner/Operator of WCKV – TV9, Clarksville’s only FCC Licensed Broadcast TV Station, .

The lead sponsor for this program is McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home.  “We are proud to be involved with bringing this local, high quality television program to Clarksville, especially since it honors those who deserve honor,” said Ed Larson, Director of McReynolds-Nave & Larson.

Comments and suggestions for TV programming are welcome by WCKV.

About WCKV

WCKV, Clarksville’s only FCC licensed Broadcast TV Station, transmits its signal from downtown Clarksville on antenna Ch-49 and is carried by Charter on cable Ch-9.  CDE LightBand will carry the signal on Ch-9 in the near future.  WCKV has recently started carrying programming from My Family TV, a national network specializing in 100% clean, wholesome, family-friendly TV programming.

For additional information on the station, contact Dan Calderon at 931-274-0920 or email to .

Volunteer Wanda McMoore brews to first of many pots of coffee for the days meal.

Local volunteers for the January 17 “National Day of Service” turned out at Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen to prepare and serve the day’s meal — chili con carne — and accept monetary and food donations for this program, which serves approximately 200 meals a day, six days a week, to Clarksville’s families in need.

Clarksville for Obama coordinated the event, which was designed as part of the President-elect Barack Obama’s commitment to community service. Event coordinator Terry McMoore hosted the event, citing a need for communities to “get back to the basics to make life better for everyone.”

Loaves and Fishes Manager Mike O’Connell was grateful for the outpouring of community support, and accepted a number of monetary donations from the NAACP and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with the stream of food donations.

Day of Service volunteers were a roster of "Who's Who" in the Clarksville community: John Ferguson, Sheriff Norman Lewis, Wanda McMoore, Terry McMoore, Reggie Chapman, Kate Krevel, Tim Barnes, "Shirley", Noah Gurley, Rev. Charles Moreland and Mrs. Gurley.

“Obama himself was very involved with community service as a young man, and his commitment to the concept of this ‘Day of service’ is intended to create more opportunities like for people to become involved,” McMoore said, noting that as ideas ‘come down the Obama pipeline, we will continue to be involved.” McMoore noted that unlike earlier political grassroots organizations, Clarksville for Obama and similar groups across the country will continue to grow and sustain the movement for change that began in the Obama campaign. “There is still a lot of work to be done.”

Sheriff Norman Lewis speaks with Senator Tim Barnes

County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, County Trustee Brenda Radford, Senator Tim Barnes, Sheriff Norman Lewis, City Judge
Charles Smith,  City Councilor Mark Harris and NAACP president and School Board member Jimmie Garland joined a gathering of community and church volunteers to greet donors and visitors, sort donated food, and serve the days meal.

Pat Warner joined  Janice  and Joe Franklin as part of her church’s Team Hope, one of several church teams that regularly volunteers to work in the  Loaves and Fishes kitchen.

“We go out into the community. It’s a way to put our faith in action,” said volunteer Pat Warner.

In the back room, volunteers Reggie Chapman and Noah Gurley helped unload donations and restock shelves. Both young men said their moms were instrumental in their decision to help out.

“My mom told me about this and I thought it was a good thing to do,” Chapman said. Gurley echoed that thought even as he kept on putting groceries away on the Loaves and Fishes shelves.

Photos by Kelly Anne LaPlante

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Thousands of donated items were sorted by age and gender, and every effort was made to get the toys matched up with the individual wishes of the children registered for this program, according to Julie Wright, administrator of the program. In one case, gift wrappers weren’t sure if the child named was a boy or girl, so volunteers packaged gifts for each gender.

Volunteers unload trash bags full of childrens' gifts

Wright explained that the program was their way of  saying “thank you” to the soldiers who protect our country just as the Sheriff’s department protects our community.

Sheriff  Norman  Lewis said “seeing the look on children’s faces as they open their gifts” made all the work and preparation worthwhile. Volunteers have been wrapping and tagging presents 8 hours a day since Monday.

With over one thousand toys leftover, the remainder will be donated to other programs and charities  in the community.

Sheriff’s Department  Photos by Bill Larson

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Most people happily look forward to a single retirement celebration. However that was too limiting for the brothers Gene and Orville Lewis of Woodlawn. Saturday afternoon, at the Lewis Family farm, the two brothers held a double retirement celebration with family, friends and work colleagues all invited to sit down to some fabulous home-cooked treats.

Gene Lewis marks his second career retirement with his leaving the Tennessee Department of Corrections Probation Office after twenty one years of service. He preceded this retirement having ended a full complement of military service. The two careers combined total more than thirty-six years of dedicated public service to his country and community. A record to be proud of by any measure.

Orville Lewis closes out a thirty-five year career with the Tennessee Department of Safety Highway Patrol. He joined the Patrol in 1974, and weathered the turbulent times which included his assignment to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Persistence and perseverance are hallmarks of the Lewis family, and these traits served Orville well in his career pursuits with the Highway Patrol.

Family members from all ranks and corners of the tri-state area came to help the brothers celebrate their combined seventy-five years of work. Brothers, sisters, in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles, grandchildren by the score all came to celebrate the achievements of these men. The Lewis family women prepared a fitting feast for the occasion, with a menu of slaw, potato salad, fruit salad, baked beans, green beans with potatoes, cabbage with sausage, smoked sausage, grilled bratwurst, wings, baby back ribs, grilled chicken and beef brisket with hot sauce. Soft drinks, bottled water and juice packs sated the thirsty and the celebratory retirement cakes provided the desert.

Fellow patrolmen from the Highway Patrol were on hand to honor their brother trooper as he bid farewell to the cruiser duty he had known for so long. Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis was also there to honor the brothers remarkable achievements. Family and friends kept arriving, always finding a heaping helping of food awaiting them.

At the designated moment, the two brothers addressed their family and friends. Each man thanked their colleagues, associates and friends for coming out. Gene Lewis spoke of his having completed two careers: first, his military service, and now, this latest with the Department of Corrections in the Probation Office. Orville Lewis acknowledged several of his fellow patrol co-workers who made his time with the patrol memorable and worthwhile. Family members received special thanks and their wives were given even greater acknowledgments from their respective husbands. Both men praised them children and gave them thanks for being the good examples that they are.

The younger men and teens talked of bench press weights and played scrimmage football and rounds of throwing passes. A certain assistant Northwest High basketball coach tried his hand at pre-conditioning drills. Orville took some of the grandchildren on a walking tour of the family homestead property.

Old family friends shared memories and stories of yesteryear as music played softly in the background. Grandbabies, and little ones were plentiful. Vincent remarked that the present pavilion stood on the site of the old family two-story home where seventeen children were reared. Gene remarked that between himself, Orville and Milan, they had over one hundred seventeen years of service totaled.

As the evening cool settled in, retirement clearly doesn’t mean these gentlemen will be sitting idly on any front porch. That’s just not the Lewis style. They are actively involved in their community as private citizens. “Gentlemen, congratulations and enjoy! You have definitely earned it.”

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Senator Rosalind Kurita, flanked by MCDP Chairman Gene Lewis (right) and Rep. Joe Pitts (left) cut the ribbon to officially open MCDP Election headquarters

With the handicap access ramp’s paint scent still fresh in the air, Tuesday evening saw the Montgomery County Democratic Party, (MCDP), host a jubilant election headquarters grand opening. Party officials, elected representatives and ‘names to remember’ were on hand to mark the event. The ribbon cutting at 534 Madison Street was marked with congratulatory thanks to all the supporters who came out to the event. The office will be open from 2-5 p.m. until the Democratic Convention is over; after the convention, it will be open full time.

New ramp makes handicapped access easy at MCDP headquarters

State Rep. Joe Pitts, State Senator Rosalind Kurita, former House Majority Leader Kim MacMillan along with MCDP Chair Gene Lewis all held the ribbon as a smiling Senator Kurita cut the cloth. With a smooth single stroke, the headquarters doors were open and everyone flowed inside for refreshments. Attendance was estimated to be over 150 persons.

The MCDP will conduct and coordinate all of its 2008 general elections campaign activities at this location. In addition, Clarksville for Obama will conduct all of its remaining campaign activities from the 534 Madison Street site as well. The building sits at the intersection of University Blvd. and Madison Street, across from the Madison Street Christ of Christ.

Several of the regional candidates brought campaign material for distribution to promote their campaigns. David Davison provided lawn signs in addition to personal fans. Ryan Morris also had lawn sign signs on hand. The Bob Tuke for Senate Campaign conducted volunteer sign-up. Rev. Charles Moreland had his “Prayer for Obama” brochures on display. Clarksville for Obama staffers had a table with campaign buttons and car bumper stickers for sale. Also a fresh shipment of Obama ‘08 T-shirts arrived and was immediately opened to a myriad of calls for purchase. Senator Kurita was among the first to purchase one of the Obama ‘08 “Change You Can Believe” T-shirt.

Along with the those named above, also in attendance were County Sheriff Norman Lewis, Clarksville for Obama campaigners Jim and Nan Roberts; Cindy Pitts, wife of Rep. Joe Pitts, candidate for 7th Congressional District Ryan G. Morris, candidate for the State House District 78 seat David Davison, Ward 8 City council candidate David Cutting, Senate district 22 challenger Tim Barnes and his wife Linda, TNDP Executive Committeman Keith Jackson, Dr. Richard Gildrie, Dr. Howard Winn, and MCDP Treasurer Barbara Brown.

Also attending were Clarksville for Obama campaigner JoAnn Latz,Tyrone Taylor-Montgomery County Co-Chair for the “Bob Tuke for U.S. Senate” campaign, Dr. George Kurita, MCDP 1st Vice-Chair Kim Smith, Freda and Donald O’Neal, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce member and community activist Angel Natal, Clarksville for Obama Campaign Chairman Terry McMoore, APSU College Democrats President Adam Haynes, MCDP 3rd Vice-Chair Robert Lewis, MCDP 4th Vice-Chair Betsy Ignacio, community activist Virgina Hatcher-Simms along with MCDP Secretary Brenay Poindexter, Horace Murphy and his wife, Dr. Jean Murphy, Caribbean Drums Performer/Instructor Ivin Roberts and Pastor Timothy Grant.

Along with the trays of finger vegetables, sliced meats and cheese, diced fruit, the sheet cake and chilled fruit punch, networking was busily conducted. Introductions, acquaintance renewals and campaign support pledges, well wishes, congratulations and fund-raising abounded.

Upcoming Clarksville for Obama activities include a House Party in Adams, TN on Saturday, August 23rd. More details forthcoming. There will be an “Organize for Change:” Convention Watch Party on August 28th at MCDP Headquarters. For more information on Clarksville for Obama, to purchase t-shirts, buttons or bumper stickers, or to sign up to host a house party, get event hosting assistance or otherwise support the Obama in ‘08 campaign, visit their website: <www.clarksvilleforobama.com.>

The Montgomery County Democratic Party General Membership Meeting will be held Tuesday, August 26th at the new election campaign Madison Street headquarters. For additional information or questions, please contact: Gene Lewis, MCDP Chairman at (931) 801-6209. As the Democratic Party National Convention sweeps to an end this weekend, the MCDP headquarters will swing into action. the MCDP headquarters phone number is 931-552-5523. Volunteers are always welcome.

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