English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Clarksville, TN

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – New York Butcher Shoppe has arrived in Clarksville, opening their storefront earlier this month with a variety of meat selections, groceries, salads and side dishes, along with prepared meals.

New York Butcher Shoppe owner Taylor Rather said after working in tech for 30 years, he was fortunate enough to sell his business and invest in his love for meat and cooking. “Coming from the cybersecurity world and talking about computers for many years, to talking about meat, it puts a much bigger smile on my face. It’s good to make people happy,” Rather said.

Rather said when he met with New York Butcher Shoppe executives, he fell in love with the process and their team. “The process began about two years ago, and we overcame some challenges to get here, but we are here,” Rather said. “I want to give a shoutout to the NYBS corporate team. They have guided me through the entire process with it obviously being my very first franchise. That team has been extremely helpful in guiding me to where I am today.”

Rather told Clarksville Now they have a good a variety of products at his butcher shop.

“We’ll start with the meat; it’s all Certified Angus Beef brand. It’s all organic, free-range, grass-fed, grain-finished, so we get that beautiful marbling,” he said. “On the pork side, we carry Duroc breed pork raised on great farms its whole life and grain-finished. I’ve never been much of a porkchop kind of guy, but man, that Duroc pork breed changed me.”

Rather said they also have a wide selection of seafood including Faroe Island salmon from the coast of Scotland, scallops, halibut, some red snapper and black sea bass.

Meanwhile, they have Spring Mountain Farms organic chicken, and also offer some wagyu, bison and lamb.

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Rather said New York Butcher Shoppe is now beginning to take requests from customers. “We’re trying to build up what folks want in the area, so we can start getting that in and stocking it for people,” Rather said.

Butcher George Trizis told Clarksville Now, “Any kind of specialty meat you want, you just tell me, and I’ll find it online or from one of our purveyors and let you know how much it’s going to cost. We cater to anything. I’ve been teaching everybody that one of my key phrases is ‘Yes is the answer, what’s your question?'”

Rather said New York Butcher Shoppe offers plenty of grocery items from chips to charcoal, as well as premade selections and specials. Locally sourced specialty groceries include gourmet pasta, specialty cheeses and high-quality vegetables.

While they don’t currently have wine, as they work with local government agencies they hope to offer approximately 60 wine selections in the future.

Rather said the team is excited and thankful to set up shop in the Sango area.

“I live about six or seven minutes away from here, and I’ve been here in Clarksville for almost 30 years,” Rather said. “Seeing this area grow up, I think the area has been lacking some variety and some meat. I’m very fortunate enough to be in this spot, and the outcome we’ve had from people has been overwhelming. I’m happy to give back a taste of New York and all of the products that we have and serve some good meat here.”

New York Butcher Shoppe is at 2720 Madison St., Suite E, and the business hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, with the storefront open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays. The business can also be reached at 931-291-6790.

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CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – For years, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has made strides toward their goal of a 100% graduation rate. In November, CMCSS announced a 95.1% graduation rate, and in January they saw significant improvements to their state report card. But one of those graduates has come forward after slipping through the cracks: He received his diploma with a 3.4 GPA but cannot read or write.

According to court documents obtained by Clarksville Now, in 2016, the student referred to as “William” moved here with his parents who were active-duty servicemembers. William began attending 5th grade in CMCSS.

During that 5th grade year, CMCSS identified William as eligible for special education through reading assessment screening and placed him on an Individual Education Plan (IEP). During these screenings, William tested in the 8th percentile for reading comprehension, and the 2nd percentile for oral reading fluency – well below the 25th percentile for reading deficiency. In subsequent years, he would continue to score below the 10th percentile.

William participated in a Curriculum Based Assessment (CBA) that showed he could write only 40 words in three minutes, spelling 28 correctly. From 5th to 8th grade, the CBA showed minimal improvement, and by the 8th grade, in 2019-20, the small improvements he was making came to a stop.

On Jan. 13, 2020, CMCSS psychologist Brad Wooten reevaluated William to determine if he still had a disability under Tennessee standards. This evaluation showed that not only was William not improving, he was “regressing in the number of words he reads correctly per minute.”

On Jan. 29, 2020, the same day his new IEP was created, William’s teacher, Dr. Candice Leaverton, emailed a different school psychologist, Megan Christensen, asking her to “Please take a look at (William). I am very concerned.” When Christensen asked why, Leaverton responded, “I will have to talk to you later. This kid can’t read.”

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During the next school year, when William was in 9th grade, his average score on the eight English class tests in the first semester was approximately 65%. However, he routinely received scores of 100 for his classwork, homework, and “other” graded assignments, a trend that repeated in the second semester.

According to court documents, the average 9th grader reads 151 words a minute. William was reading only 59.

By the time William was in the 11th grade during the 2022-23 school year, he was doing everything he could to stay in good academic standing and achieve his goal of one day joining the Army. But by this point, William had screened in the “high-risk” category in only the 1st percentile of reading fluency nationally.

When filling out his 2022-23 IEP documentation, William misspelled his own last name twice, and he scored poorly on his final exams, even when he was assisted by an in-person reader.

He continued to score poorly on in-class testing and assessments and could have failed were it not for his “other” graded assignments that he was able to work on at home. William was able to get high scores on these take-home assignments by using a combination of ChatGPT and Grammarly. He would then have a software program read to him out loud and would make changes if it “didn’t sound right.”

Unfortunately, AI was unable to assist him when taking the ASVAB, a military entrance exam. In order to join, a student must score a minimum of 31, and William scored only a 7.

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His teacher, Bethanie Hargett-Slack, told William’s mother, “(William) has a reading problem, he cannot read,” according to the court documents. On Nov. 3, 2022, William’s family began to pursue “outside resources.”

On Jan. 9, 2023, in 11th grade, William received an outside evaluation by psychologist Dr. Rebecca Townsend. By Jan. 26, 2023, Townsend had diagnosed William with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD and autism. “William thought he was struggling to read, but he did not know he was functionally illiterate,” court documents state.

Townsend concluded that William’s results were significantly below grade level and, “These scores are indicators that (William) has had academic difficulties for a significant amount of time without adequate remediation.”

When an additional evaluation was performed by a CMCSS psychologist, they found William only met the criteria for autism and ADHD. Townsend’s report is the first and only mention of William having dyslexia.

“Without using the word (‘dyslexia’), CMCSS grossly failed to deliver dyslexia-specific interventions from 5th grade to 11th grade,” the complaint states. All of the IEPs that William received from 5th to 11th grade remained virtually the same.

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At the 2023-24 IEP meeting, for William’s 12th grade year, Dr. Sara McAfee, director of the Clarksville Center for Dyslexia, recommended implementing a 12-step program to teach reading to a dyslexic person, but it was refused.

Despite this, William began working in this program, known as the Wilson Reading and Language System. But the process takes three years minimum to complete for William become a functional reader.

William graduated from CMCSS in 2024 school year with a 3.4 GPA, a regular education diploma and functionally illiterate.

On July 28, 2023, the court awarded William 888 hours of compensatory education.

Appeals have been filed, including one from CMCSS on Feb 3, 2025, arguing that since William had passed with a 3.4 GPA, and they had provided accommodations during his attendance, that the ruling for compensatory education should be overruled. The court stood by their original order.

When contacted by Clarksville Now, CMCSS declined to comment, saying that litigation is still pending.

One of William’s attorneys, Justin Gilbert, declined to comment.

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Tennessee now the Third Least Expensive Market in the Nation

Nashville, TN – Gas prices across the state fell seven cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.68 which is eight cents less expensive than one month ago and 40 cents less than one year ago.

“Crude oil prices fluctuated lower over last week, which likely helped contribute to the welcome break in pump prices across the state,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As we head into the spring break travel period, increased gasoline demand is likely to place upward pressure on our pump prices. For now, drivers can enjoy the fact that Tennessee is the third least expensive market in the nation for gas prices.”

The national average for a gallon of gas dropped a penny since last week to $3.11 thanks in part to softer oil prices. Some drivers could see fluctuations at the pump due to markets and retailers reacting to news of tariffs and the transition to summer-grade gasoline, which is more expensive to produce.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased from 8.45 b/d last week to 8.87. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 248.3 million barrels to 246.8. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

Today’s national average for a gallon of gas is $3.08, five cents lower than a month ago and 31 cents lower than a year ago.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI dropped $1.95 to settle at $66.31 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 3.6 million barrels from the previous week. At 433.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

(Price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline)

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more.

ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 64 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety.

Tennessee is the 5th least expensive market in the nation

Nashville, TN – Tennessee gas prices rose two cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.70 which is nine cents less expensive than one month ago and 39 cents less than one year ago.

“Our gas prices continue to fluctuate across the state as many Tennesseans are heading into spring break this week,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.

“For those that are planning a road trip, the good news is that quite a few states now have state gas price averages below $3/gallon. We’re also seeing gas prices cheaper than one year ago – 39 cents cheaper both at the state and national level,” Cooper stated.

Despite increased demand, gas prices dipped lower this week, with today’s national average at $3.07 per gallon, about a penny lower than a week ago. This drop at the pump comes as many travelers gear up to hit the road for spring break and drivers may be surprised to find gas under $3 in 29 states.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased from 8.87 million b/d last week to 9.18. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 246.8 million barrels to 241.1, leaving them slightly below seasonal averages. Gasoline production also decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

Today’s national average for a gallon of gas is $3.07, about 9 cents lower than a month ago and 39 cents less than a year ago.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI increased $1.43 to settle at $67.68 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 1.4 million barrels from the previous week. At 435.2 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 5% below the five-year average for this time of year.

(Price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline)

Every day up to 130,000 stations in the nation and more than 4,200 stations in Tennessee are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.

AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com.

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more.

ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 65 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety.

For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on social media.

Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Gas and Water Department (CGW) is repairing a water main leak on Parade Drive causing low water pressure from Parade Court to Tylertown Road.

Water service may also be turned off during the work.

The water main leak repair work is anticipated to be finished, and water pressure restored by approximately 4:00pm.

Clarksville Gas and Water is proud to safely and efficiently deliver natural gas, water, and sewer services to the citizens of Clarksville-Montgomery County by a courteous and professional team of knowledgeable employees.

Natural gas service is also provided to Robertson and Cheatham counties in Tennessee, Christian and Todd counties in Kentucky and to the Fort Campbell, Kentucky military installation.

CGW is also home to the City Engineering Office that provides expert design and support for water and sewer system capital improvement projects.

Clarksville Gas and Water Department’s main office is located at 2215 Madison Street, Clarksville, Tennessee. The phone is 931.645.7400. Hours are 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday.

For an emergency after hours, call 931.645.0116, 4:30pm-8:00am Weekends and Holidays.

For more information about Clarksville Gas and Water, visit their website at www.clarksvillegw.com

Dyslexia therapist is advocating for students struggling with literacy.

A Middle Tennessee school district has been ordered to provide hundreds of hours of tutoring after a federal appeals court ruled it failed to provide a dyslexic student with appropriate instruction.

Posted 3:52 PM, Mar 12, 2025

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Middle Tennessee school district has been ordered to provide hundreds of hours of tutoring after a federal appeals court ruled it failed to provide a dyslexic student with appropriate reading instruction.

The parents of the student, identified as William A. in court documents, sued the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System after he graduated high school with a 3.4 GPA but was unable to read. Despite having an Individualized Education Plan, the lawsuit argued the district did not provide the necessary support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Court documents revealed that teachers had expressed concerns about the student’s reading ability, with one emailing administrators, “This kid can’t read.”

The court found the school district focused on reading fluency rather than foundational literacy skills, failing to meet the student’s needs. The ruling ordered the district to provide 888 hours of compensatory dyslexia tutoring.

Niki Richardson, founder of the Tennessee Dyslexia Alliance, said the case highlights a widespread issue.

“The fact is there are going to be other people out there. They may have graduated, but they still lack other skills,” Richardson said.

Richardson, a dyslexia therapist, said students with dyslexia need specific instruction to develop reading skills.

“Our brain has to have that wiring that we give it to learn how to read,” she said. “Certain things have to fire, and certain highways have to be built. Some dyslexic students don’t have that wiring.”

She believes most educators want to help students succeed but could use more training and resources.

“At the heart of these educators, they want to do right by that student, and they’re doing the best with the tools they’re given,” Richardson said. “I look toward school districts and leaders to be more empowered to take this dyslexia initiative on.”

Richardson, a former public school educator, founded the Tennessee Dyslexia Alliance to advocate for students struggling with literacy.

“I think we have more good happening for our students than bad,” she said. “We just need a little more.”

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System appealed the lower court’s ruling, but the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the decision in favor of the student.

Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at aaron.cantrell@newschannel5.com

Fundraising efforts are underway in Brownsville and Nutbush, TN to build a statue for a major superstar who was raised there, Anna Mae Bullock. You probably know her by her stage name, Tina Turner. I was a huge fan of Tina and glad to see efforts are underway to showcase more of her ties to West Tennessee.

-Lelan Statom

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