The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly in Monteagle concludes its 142nd consecutive summer season of enrichment on Sunday, Aug. 4, after eight weeks featuring visiting lecturers and performers presenting morning and evening programs open to the public; unless otherwise noted, morning lectures begin at 10:45 a.m. (Warren Chapel) and evening lectures at 7:45 p.m. (Auditorium). Anyone interested in a full schedule of the Monteagle Assembly’s 2024 program is welcome to pick one up at the Assembly Office (tel. 931-924-2286), or to peruse the schedule on the Assembly’s website at <MonteagleSundaySchoolAssembly.org>.

Among the programs this week are lectures on presidential wills and estates, the ways enslavement was depicted by pro-slavery antebellum artists, the Vanderbilt family, and the Wizard of Oz—something for everyone!

University of Alabama associate professor Dr. Rachel Stephens has amassed an impressive CV since graduating from the University of the South with a degree in art history in 2002. After earning a master’s degree in art history from Vanderbilt University and a PhD from the University of Iowa, Stephens held several prestigious fellowships, including stints at the Virginia Historical Society, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Art. Her recent book, “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Concealment of Slavery in Antebellum American Art,” explores the ways in which pro-slavery artists depicted enslaved persons in their art during the antebellum period. In an interview about her book, Stephens said, “so much of the history of enslaved people, and the people themselves was intentionally covered up or written out. This project was a first attempt to uncover the visual record of Southern slavery and understand how the visual arts were utilized in pro-slavery arguments.” She will lecture about her book on Wednesday morning and read from the book in the Writers’ Grove at 2:30 p.m., Friday.

When you start reading about Dr. Elliot Engel’s work, there’s a good chance you’ll think at least some of it is fiction—because how one man has managed to do so much in one lifetime is astounding! Known as Professor Engel, he’s lauded for making history and literature accessible to many through his educational CDs and DVDs, which have been used in classrooms and by individuals around the country for decades. Author of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Stephen Chbosky, said that learning from Professor Engel’s teachings yields impressive results: “when you go to parties, you will seem a lot smarter than you actually are. God knows it worked for me.” He will lecture Thursday evening about “The Vanderbilts: All of them!” and again Friday morning on “L. Frank Baum and The Wizard of Oz.” Chances are good you’ll learn a lot—and laugh a lot, too.

Additional events in the week ahead include the following:

Tuesday, July 30, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel — Joshua Denton lectures on “The Amazing Stories of Our Presidents’ Wills and Estates.”

Tuesday/Thursday, July 30 & Aug. 1, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Cottage #126B—Virginia Curry leads an intermediate knitting workshop. Participants will make a basic hat with faux fur pom. Advance registration required with limited space; $25 activity fee.

Tuesday, July 30, 2:30 p.m., Writers’ Grove—Kirk Battle reads from his book, “These Hallowed Halls,” with a signing to follow. Rain location is Warren Chapel.

Wednesday, July 31, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel—Kirk Battle lectures on Rebuilding the University of the South after the Civil War.

Wednesday, July 31, 1 p.m., Meet at Auditorium—University of the South professor Gerald “Smith” Smith leads a tour of the Sewanee Cemetery, in which participants can see where some of the characters in Kirk Battle’s book, “These Hallowed Halls,” are buried.

Thursday, Aug. 1, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel—the minister of the week, Rev. James B. Cook, lectures on the Mama Ada Story.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

After lengthy discussion at the special called July 17 meeting, the Monteagle Council voted not to adopt an ordinance allowing unmanned traffic cameras. The council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance regulating stormwater runoff.

In discussion, the council concurred Police Chief William Raline proposed the unmanned cameras for use in school zones. The ordinance as written allowed the cameras “pretty much anywhere,” acknowledged Vice Mayor Nate Wilson.

Resident Tony Gilliam objected to the cameras, arguing people would take the interstate and bypass the town, citing the example of Smyrna which earned the reputation of being a speed trap. “Putting cameras in is going to hurt Monteagle,” Gilliam said.

“[Using cameras] is more efficient than the radar mechanism,” observed Mayor Greg Maloof.

Wilson explained the unmanned traffic camera had two components, radar and a license plate reader. The license plate reader could also be used to apprehend criminal suspects, but the reader would need to be programmed to alert to the suspect’s license plate number.

“We have interstate traffic on both ends of the town and at any point someone with dire interests could come into our town … this [unmanned camera mechanism] is a heightened level of security,” said Alderman Dan Sargent. “The council has the discretion to keep it where we set it to be.”

The ordinance as written did not give the council the authority to decide where to put the cameras, Wilson pointed out.

Maloof said the town’s attorney drafted the ordinance based on the information received from the company offering the service.

“My interpretation when it was presented to us [by Chief Raline] was for use in school zones Monday through Friday for extra income for the police department,” said Alderwoman Dorraine Parmley. “I’m all about the police department. I love our police department, but I’m not ready to vote on the camera thing … I’m not going to think about a camera, but when I see that police car I’m automatically going to slow down.”

“Visibility is crucial,” said resident Katie Trahan.

Wilson said Monteagle’s goal was to have two police officers per shift. “We don’t have the budget for that.” Wilson noted Monteagle spent more on policing than most towns its size, a circumstance justified by the two interstate exits resulting in the town dealing with issues not present in other small towns; and by the town being in three counties making arrest and prosecution of criminal suspects more difficult.

Wilson conceded he failed to recall Chief Raline’s rationale for the camera’s economic benefit to the town. When an officer ticketed a speeder, the town received 100 percent of the fine, but when the camera ticketed a speeder, the town only received a percentage, Wilson observed. He suggested Raline attend the next council meeting to explain the cameras’ benefits.

In the vote on the unmanned cameras, Sargent remained silent.

The stormwater runoff ordinance applies to multiphase projects, such as subdivisions, larger than one acre. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulated runoff during construction, Wilson said, but TDEC did not regulate runoff post construction. The ordinance stipulates post-construction runoff must match the preconstruction runoff. For example, if impervious surfaces increase the runoff, retention ponds must be created to contain it. Maloof said developers had raised questions about whether Monteagle had a stormwater ordinance. Wilson explained the need for the ordinance resulted from so much of the town being in the Laurel Lake watershed which was the town’s only drinking water supply.

A $10,000 reward is now being offered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) for information leading to the apprehension, arrest, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for vandalism and theft on Franklin State Forest.

“As investigators continue to collect evidence at the scene in Franklin County, we are asking for the public’s help with information about the recent crimes,” Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “Early estimates of the $1 million loss to forestry equipment leave taxpayers footing the bill.”

Sometime during July 10-14, 2024, five TDA Division of Forestry dozers and one transport truck and trailer were vandalized and damaged, rendering the equipment inoperable.

The forest will remain closed to visitors while evidence is gathered. TDA will announce when law enforcement officers complete their investigation and the forest reopens.

Anyone with information that could help identify who is responsible for the crimes on Franklin State Forest are asked to contact ACU at 844-AG-CRIME (844-242-7463) or <agriculture.crime@tn.gov>.

Details on the incident can found in the TDA newsroom at <www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2024/7/16/state-forest-closed-to-the-public-during-investigation.html>.

University Provost Scott Wilson has announced the following. We are writing to inform you of important and significant changes to the University’s parking and transportation systems that will improve traffic safety and visitor access.

Among these initiatives is a re-striping of University Avenue to better accommodate multiple-uses: vehicular traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, and parking—including ADA-compliant parking spaces. A student shuttle service aimed at supporting college and graduate students, but open to employee use, will begin operating. Unfortunately, due to insurance restrictions, the shuttle is only available for student and employee use at this time. Additionally, parking zones have been reworked and signage will soon be added to better meet the needs of students, visitors, and employees.

Of utmost urgency at this time is to notify you of details about the re-striping project, which we anticipate will occur in the next two weeks. The work on University Avenue will be completed in two phases, which may occur up to four days apart from each other. The work may prove disruptive during this time.

On Tuesday, July 30, a sandblasting truck will remove all the painted stripes on University Avenue (except the easternmost bike lane). The work will occur overnight, subject to weather. All parked vehicles will need to be removed from University Avenue while the paint is being removed to allow for the machinery.

While the work is in progress, there will not be a center line along University Avenue from Hwy. 41A, through the Village and campus, to the Sewanee Inn. The bicycle lane on the east side of University Avenue will remain. We strongly encourage drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to exercise extreme caution during this time.

In the second phase, large striping equipment will come through to paint a new center line, a bicycle lane on the west side of the street, and parallel parking spots along the west side of University Avenue. This will most likely be done between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. one night. There may be as little as 48 hours’ notice. During painting, all parked vehicles must be removed from University Avenue. We will notify the community as soon as we receive notice of the re-striping date.

We thank you for your cooperation and patience during this process as we seek to make improvements benefitting our community through enhanced safety.

The changes in parking and transportation noted above will be the first phase of a more holistic set of updates. They are a product of diligent study and will be implemented at the beginning of the Advent semester. More information and details will be shared as the projects get underway.

The Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties is requesting your assistance by filling out the “Help us Get the Lead Out!” survey located on our website. State regulations require this data to ensure the safety and quality of our water supply and distribution. Your prompt participation will greatly help us in meeting these requirements. Please visit https://www.sewaneeutility.org/; and complete the survey at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your cooperation.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Sewanee Utility District manager Ben Beavers’ Financial Report at the July 16 commissioners’ meeting showed $203,350 in miscellaneous income from the University reimbursing SUD for expenses incurred when Highway 41A was narrowed. Beavers also reported on drought conditions, a problem with the main intake valve at Lake O’Donnell, a sewer overflow, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant projects.

In 2020, the Tennessee Department of Transportation undertook took narrowing Highway 41A to accommodate the University’s Sewanee Village Plan. Because it was a state project, the cost of relocating water and sewer lines fell to SUD. In a verbal agreement, the University agreed to “help out” to lessen the utility district’s financial burden [see Sewanee Mountain Messenger Aug. 21, 2020]. The University reimbursed SUD for 80 percent of the expense incurred.

Updating the board of commissioners on drought conditions on the Plateau, Beavers said Monteagle had gone to “mandatory restrictions,” skipping the voluntary restrictions stage of water conservation. “In talking with Tracy City and Big Creek, their lakes are full. Technically we’re in a drought now, a D1, which is the lowest level …[SUD] is about where we normally are [this time of year], which is odd considering the lack of rain. Even with no rain, we’re still three or four weeks away from having to start a conversation about restrictions.”

The location of the main intake at O’Donnell Road has shifted resulting in a crimp in the hose reducing the flow from 650 gallons per minute to 450 gallons per minute. Beavers plans to call in divers to address the problem. The reduced flow has increased man hours at the Water Plant to keep up with demand. “Demand is up. There have been a lot of people in town this summer,” Beavers said.

A technical aberration caused the sewer bypass at Bob Stewman Road, SUD’s main lift station, releasing 2.3 million gallons of untreated wastewater. SUD employees inspect the Bob Stewman location daily and verify the equipment is operating properly, Beavers said. “On a Friday morning, sometime between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. after they left, a power blink knocked the SCADA system and the controller for the pumps offline. The station overflowed until Monday morning … The power has to be out 30 seconds before the generator kicks in. If the power is out for 25 seconds, the controller automatically resets. With a few second jolt like that, it knocks it [the controller] out, but the timer doesn’t register reset.” Because the SCADA system was offline, the device did not send an alarm alert. Beavers reported the incident to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “What came out of the lift station looks horrible,” he acknowledged. Regulations prevent SUD from using water from its supply lakes to flush the area, because the flow from the cleanup would enter a different watershed from the water source used for the cleanup. “I can’t do anything to clean it up,” Beavers said. “We have to wait until it rains and flushes it out.”

Commenting on the lead and copper survey being financed with the ARPA grant, Beavers said the interns had collected property data, including build dates, for all SUD customers’ residences and buildings. “Anything built after 1988 has no lead,” Beavers said. “We’ll probably need to inspect some of the old houses in Sewanee and take a look at their plumbing.” To comply with federal law, all lead fittings must be replaced. SUD customers can visit the SUD website to complete an online survey about their homes to assist SUD with the inventory.

In conjunction with the leak detection ARPA project, Beavers has requested using ARPA funds for a pressure reducer at Jackson Point. The 400-foot drop in elevation results in high water pressure, and the potential for extreme water loss in the event of line leaks.

The sewer rehab ARPA project will reduce Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) of storm water into the sewer system, which increases costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will focus on manhole rehabilitation. “Over the past 20 years SUD has spent several million dollars on the pipes, but nothing on the manholes,” Beavers said. “Research shows 30 percent of I&I comes from manholes. SUD has 265 manholes. We’ll work our way down the list starting with the worst until we run out of money.” He projected the project would take two and a half years.

Through July 27, the University of the South will continue to host the 34th annual session of the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Supported by Tennessee Williams and the Walter E. Dakin Memorial Fund, the Conference provides promising writers instruction through workshops and craft lectures in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting.

Although workshops are limited to Conference participants, lectures and readings are open to the public and free to attend. These events will be in Guerry Auditorium on the corner of University Avenue and Georgia Avenue. Masking is required at all events.

Highlights will include readings and craft lectures throughout each day of the conference. The 8 p.m. readings by faculty include Nathan Alan Davis & Adrianne Harun on Friday, July 19, Marianne Chan & Katie Kitamura on Saturday, July 20, Brittany K. Allen & Jaquira Díaz on Sunday, July 21, Chinelo Okparanta & Felicia Zamora on Monday, July 22, Nate Marshall & Liliana Padilla on Tuesday, July 23, Cusi Cram & Claire Messud on Wednesday, July 24, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum & Caki Wilkinson on Thursday, July 25, Michael Knight & Aisha Sabatini Sloan on Friday, July 26, and Eduardo C. Corral & R. O. Kwon on Saturday, July 27.

A complete Conference schedule can be found online at <sewaneewriters.org>. Authors’ books are available at the University Book & Supply Store.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Remington Rose-Crossley has lived his life navigating by the three W’s: whimsey, wit, and childlike, insistent wonder. You can hear the pout in his voice when he tells the story about complaining to his second wife on the eve of their marriage, “You get to change your name. Why don’t I get to change mine?” Remington got his wish, leaving behind the name Remington Rose to become Remington Rose-Crossley, adding his wife’s family name to his. Married to an Episcopal priest and with many life-long friends from his student days at Trinity College who were Episcopal priests, Remington says he frequently mused, “When do I get to do that?” The answer: “Don’t bother.” After a decades-long career as a literature professor teaching Shakespeare, the answer changed, and Remington enrolled in the School of Theology at the University of the South. Asked who told him, “Don’t bother,” Remington replied with an ingenuous smile as if bemused by the question, “God.”

Remington embraces life with an irrepressible “But of course, why not” awe. When early in their marriage Ramona decided to pursue the priesthood, Remington left behind his PhD-from-Princeton credentialed career teaching Shakespeare and taught remedial high school English at Chattanooga State Technical Community College, while Ramona attended seminary at the University of the South. After Ramona was ordained, the Rose-Crossleys began investigating employment options appropriate to the career paths their studies had prepared them for. Remington applied for and accepted a position teaching Shakespeare and literature at the University of Guam, and Ramona found a position there as an Episcopal priest. When his family questioned his leaving the United States to teach on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Remington told them, “I know how to find my way home.”

“Guam was a fascinating place,” Remington said. “Most of the students came from small outlying islands, and Ramona and I did a lot of traveling during the years we lived there. We visited New Zealand, Europe, Japan. We hiked in Tibet. We had wonderful adventures.”

After 12 years in Guam, the Rose-Crossley’s returned to Sewanee so Remington could attend seminary. House shopping and unimpressed with the pretentious stone homes the realtor had shown them, the couple fell in love with the historic Hamilton House. “Buy it, Remington,” Ramona insisted, Remington reminisces. The spacious rooms and handsome staircase enchanted them both, and Remington added a touch of ethereal magic to the charming house. At his request, local painter George Dick transformed the front porch ceiling into a blue sky with fluffy white clouds floating overhead.

Once ordained, Remington was appointed vicar of the Southeastern Tennessee Episcopal Ministry, serving at rural churches in Alto, Gruetli-Laager, and Sherwood. He delivered a service at each of his four churches twice a month, two services each Sunday. For Remington, the itinerant ministry was yet another adventure. “I met wonderful people. They were open to me. They hadn’t had a regular priest in some time. I was theirs.”

Ramona died a year and a half ago. Living alone has been hard for Remington, a difficulty alleviated by long visits from his children. “I’m moving at the end of the month,” Remington acknowledged a little sadly. “That’s what it says on my calendar. It must be true.” His new home, an assisted living apartment in Austin, Texas, has two balconies and is just a 10-minute walk from the home of one his daughters, but Remington has reservations. “Moving is a huge job. There are 711 decisions and all of them involve work. My children tell me don’t fuss about the details, but that’s what I do. It’s what I’ve always done, taken care of other people’s lives. There are 37 little things on my desk I want to take with me. Part of me wants not to leave. Ramona and I were so happy here. But she’s not here.”

Remington’s friends have planned a goodbye party. “Why?” Remington asks, a little baffled by all the attention. “Remington is a lovely, gentle soul,” said his friend Anne Griffin, supplying the answer. “This is a first for me, what it feels like living alone and planning to live alone,” Remington confessed. “I suppose if I get lonely, I’ll just have to knock on the door of one the apartments below me and say, ‘You have to be nice to me for a while.’”

In parting, when a recent visitor told him, “Have a lovely rest of the day,” Remington replied, as if pleasantly surprised by the quaint advice, “I’ll do my best.” What is certain is that Remington Rose-Crossley will bestow upon the day his special gift for wonder and awe and Remington will be rewarded with wonder and awe in return.

SWING, the lit mag published by Nashville’s longstanding literary collective, was thrilled to receive the Firecracker Award from the national Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) for the Best Debut Magazine of the Year on June 27.

Here’s what the judges had to say: “SWING has made a bold outing as a journal that gathers evocative, fine-tuned writing from the South and beyond. The debut issue is characterized by musical, deftly-formed poems, stories that conjure rich psychological and physical landscapes, and essays that embrace contradiction and irresolution. The editors’ thoughtful, and sometimes sly, juxtapositions of pieces made the journal a delight to read, and one where questions of place, family, change, and uncertainty ripple through its pages. The journal drew us in with the clear and crisp design of its print volume and website, as well as its welcoming tone and ethos. SWING is a journal to read from front to back, and a testament to the literary community that its publisher, The Porch, has built in Nashville for years.” Go to <https://www.clmp.org/press-cen...; for more information.

Co-editor, Leigh Anne Couch, said, “It was so exciting to receive this recognition on the heels of our new issue featuring 44 writers, nine of whom have participated in Porch programming, two of whom are appearing in print for the first time. And we even have comics, thank you Andrew Kozlowski and Kelcey Ervick! I am not ashamed to say that SWING is for writers (not solely, not merely, but proudly).”

Because the editors of SWING are writers themselves, they engage with the magazine as they engage with language, as a living thing, adapting to its circumstances, while hauling its past behind — a sometimes useful, and always essential burden that must be acknowledged, especially in the South.

From its advisory board to its calls for submissions, SWING strives for inclusivity, with content that represents diverse backgrounds and communities, both challenging to and reflecting of our understanding of the South’s shifting cultural landscape. We are building something here in Nashville, something that we hope will challenge, will reach out and pull you in. We are here to stay.

Because of the support of The Sandra Schatten Foundation, we can now pay our writers in more than deepest gratitude and contributor copies. We are writers at The Porch and we all know writing is labor, which should be compensated. Huge thanks to the Sandra Schatten Foundation.

We still have a ways to go, though, in terms of full support and creating a lasting foundation for SWING. If you’re able to help support the vibrant voice of both emerging and established writers, we invite you to join the SWING Shift <https://www.flipcause.com/secu...;. Help keep literature vibrant and accessible in our community and beyond.

Public access to Franklin State Forest is currently restricted as the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) investigates vandalism and theft of Division of Forestry (TDF) equipment on the forest in Franklin County.

TDA’s Agricultural Crime Unit (ACU) is working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security, and local law enforcement to arrest those responsible for vandalizing TDF dozers and a transport truck, leaving the equipment with costly, extensive damage.

Sometime during July 12-14, 2024, vandals bypassed a secured gate on Franklin State Forest and ruined five TDF dozers and damaged one transport truck. In addition to spray painting threatening messages, they stole equipment, slashed tires, cut wires and hoses in engine compartments, broke windows, and tampered with fuel tanks.

“The extent of damage to this state property is shocking, and the cost to taxpayers is expected to be equally staggering,” Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “We are thankful no employees were hurt and urge visitors to always be aware of their surroundings and report anything unusual they see while visiting state forests. While ACU Special Agents and other law enforcement officers are on site investigating, Franklin State Forest will remain closed to protect public safety and to secure evidence.”

“We cannot speculate to the motivation for this destruction, but we are aware of public opposition to harvesting operations at Franklin State Forest,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “Just like other agricultural crops, cutting timber is part of the continuous cycle of regeneration, growth, maturation, and harvest. Harvesting timber is essential for forest health and when done properly, ensures the forest will continue to thrive for generations to come. It is disappointing that someone has possibly taken their opposition to forest management to an extreme level.”

TDF dozers that were vandalized are essential for fighting wildland fires and are now out of service. TDF stands ready to deploy resources from other parts of the state to handle any wildfire emergencies that may arise in the Cumberland region.

If anyone has information related to the thefts and vandalism on Franklin State Forest, please call 844-AG-CRIME (844-242-7463) or email <agriculture.crime@tn.gov>.

To learn more about timber harvesting on state forests, visit <www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/state-forests/state-forest-timber-sales.html>. To learn more about how TDF fights wild land fires, visit <www.tn.gov/tnwildlandfire/suppression/how-we-fight-fire.html>.

The 65th annual Mountain Market for Arts & Crafts will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 27 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 28, at the Hannah Pickett Park, 16 Dixie Lee Ave., Monteagle. This show is one of the longest running and most popular craft shows in the Southeast.

This event will feature more than 100 artisans and crafters displaying their handmade creations which will include: fine art; stained glass; pottery; fine, primitive and refurbished furniture; bird houses; paintings in a variety of media; quilts; woodcrafts; folk art; toys; jewelry; chain saw carving demonstrations; blacksmith demonstrations and lectures; cigar box art; metal art; soaps and lotions; local honey; embroidered baby items and doll clothing; knitted and hand sewn items; and so much more. A variety of delicious food will be available for purchase. The Monteagle Fire Department will have a fire truck for the kids to check out, as well as talk about fire safety and offer other kid’s activities. For more information call (931)-924-5353 or visit <https://www.southcumberlandcha...;.

The Grundy County Swiss Historical Society will host its annual Swiss Heritage Celebration Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CDT) at the Stoker-Stampfli Farm Museum in Gruetli-Laager, Tenn. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the family-friendly event. The public is invited. You don’t have to be Swiss to attend.

The celebration commemorates the 155th year since families from Switzerland settled the Colony of Gruetli in Grundy County. Nearly 700 people attend each year.

Bring a lawn chair, sit in the shade and enjoy the mountain breeze, or grab a seat in the pavilion and sing along with the Musik Meisters, the Nashville-based, German alpine polka band that returns this year. Show off your polka skills. Do the “Chicken Dance!”

Step into the past with a tour of the historic farmhouse. See the furnishings, quilts, documents, memorabilia and old farm tools that offer a glimpse into rural life in the 1800s.

Jump in the bouncy house and swing on the tire swing. Hop on the tractor-driven wagon for a ride around the grounds.

Visit the food trucks and booths to buy beverages, food, canned goods, baked goods, fried pies, Swiss cookies and Springerle cookies. Purchase T-shirts, caps, commemorative wine glasses, soaps, crafts, jewelry, handmade children’s toys, mountain plants and herbs. Cash only.

By all means, stop by the popular tasting booth and sample locally made wine and cheese. Warning: there’s always a long line!

Visit with old friends and make new ones. Above all, just relax and enjoy the rustic farm setting.

Additional vendors are welcome. To apply, please contact Jackie Lawley at (931) 235-3029 or <jackie@swisshistoricalsociety.org>.

The cost is $10 per person. Children under 12 are admitted free. Parking is free.

For more information, visit <www.swisshistoricalsociety.org>, the website of the Grundy County Swiss Historical Society.

The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly in Monteagle continues its 142nd consecutive summer season of enrichment with an interdenominational worship service at 11 a.m. in the Assembly’s Warren Chapel. The season will continue through Sunday, Aug. 4, featuring numerous visiting lecturers who will present morning and evening programs that are open free of charge to the public; unless otherwise noted, morning lectures begin at 10:45 a.m. and evening lectures at 7:45 p.m. Anyone interested in a full schedule of the Monteagle Assembly’s 2024 program is welcome to pick one up at the Assembly Office (tel. (931) 924-2286), or to peruse the schedule on the Assembly’s website at <www.mssa1882.org>.

After working in public health for five years, Jill Melton helped bring Cooking Light, a magazine in Birmingham, Alabama, from infancy to a household name. She used that experience when she moved to Nashville, where she started Relish magazine — a publication that grew to become one of the largest food publications in the country with more than 16 million readers. For her next challenge, Melton cashed in her 401K — no investors involved — to start Edible Nashville, which is part of the Edible Communities (ECI) network. ECI has more than 80 magazines throughout the US and Canada, all run by independent publishers and editors. ECI harnesses the power of all the local markets to expand the voice and action. Since the first issue rolled out in March/April 2014, Jill has grown Edible Nashville to a 360 brand, complete with signature Farm Dinners taking place three times a year, cooking classes, partnerships, a robust website, newsletters and an active presence in the local farm to table movement. She will lecture on “How to Eat with the Season and the Importance of It” Thursday morning in the Auditorium.

The next day, visitors will continue on the theme of eating well with a lecture from Perre Coleman Magness, a freelance food writer, recipe developer, and the cook behind the website The Runaway Spoon, which features creative recipes with a southern slant. Known as PC, Magness describes herself as “like most people,” in that she’s somewhere “between a food snob and a food schlub.” Her Friday morning lecture, taking place in the Auditorium, is on “Re-Discovering Southern Food and Writing About It.”

Political scientist and Ole Miss faculty coach Liz Norell will explore how themes in George Washington’s Farewell Address can help us understand what to do in this fraught political moment in a pop-up lecture Monday at 2:30 pm in Warren Chapel. This addition to the program aims to provide understanding of the political forces that have created our fractured politics—and actionable ways to push back against the forces seeking to divide us further.

Additional events in the week ahead include the following:

Tuesday, July 23, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel — Janet Riley lectures on Journey Through the Chautauqua Trail: Finding Meaning, Inspiration, and Relevance in a 150-year-old Movement.

Tuesday/Thursday, July 23 & 25, 2:30 p.m., Pulliam Center — Mauro Antonio Barreto leads a two-day photography workshop. Advance registration required as space is limited; gate ticket required each day; no fee.

Tuesday, July 23, 2:30 p.m., Writers’ Grove — Janet Riley reads from her forthcoming book, “Chautauqua Summers.” Rain location is Warren Chapel.

Wednesday, July 24, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel—Ned Murray lectures on the Cumberland Plateau Trails.

Wednesday, July 24, 1:30 p.m., Meet at Auditorium — Ned Murray leads a trail hike. Advance registration required; no fee.

Wednesday, July 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Shady Dell — Make-and-Take Workshop with Virginia Curry to create zentangle decorative balls. Advance registration required; limited space; $10 materials fee.

Thursday, July 25, 7:45 p.m., Auditorium — the MSSA Archives Committee features an encore of “Hear Them Now: Lost Voices of the Assembly,” with Richard Boeth.

The Mission of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly is to be a welcoming community of Christian faith where people gather to engage in spiritual growth and renewal, lifelong inquiry and learning, recreational, and cultural enrichment, while being good stewards of our natural resources and our Assembly heritage.

The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly in Monteagle continues its 142nd consecutive summer season of enrichment with an interdenominational worship service at 11 a.m. in the Assembly’s Warren Chapel. The season will continue through Sunday, Aug. 4, featuring numerous visiting lecturers who will present morning and evening programs that are open free of charge to the public; unless otherwise noted, morning lectures begin at 10:45 a.m. and evening lectures at 7:45 p.m. Anyone interested in a full schedule of the Monteagle Assembly’s 2024 program is welcome to pick one up at the Assembly Office (tel. (931) 924-2286), or to peruse the schedule on the Assembly’s website at .

Former Tennessean columnist and political advisor Keel Hunt is no stranger to Tennessee politics. Hunt joined Lamar Alexander’s 1978 campaign for governor as research director and speechwriter, then joined Governor Alexander’s team as a special advisor. Among his books are “Coup: The Day the Democrats Ousted Their Governor,” about the unexpected (and, in today’s time, unimaginable) series of events that led Alexander to take the oath of office three days earlier than originally planned to prevent the incumbent governor, Ray Blanton, from signing pardons that many suspected — with good reason — were granted as a result of bribes. Leaders from both parties worked together to execute the unannounced swearing in, a testament to a state once known as unusually bipartisan in the American south. Hunt continues to write about Tennessee politics. He will lecture Thursday night on the topic, “Whatever Happened to Tennessee?”

Richard Courtney is known in Nashville as “the Beatles guy”: a real estate broker with a weekly Beatlemania radio show (called, of course, “From Me To You”) on Nashville’s Hippie Radio, 94.5 FM. Courtney has also written two books on the band, “I Never Saw a Beatle” and “Come Together: The Business Wisdom of the Beatles,” published in 2011. Courtney will give a lecture on “The Beatles” Wednesday morning, then read from his most recent book at 2:30 p.m., Thursday in the Writers’ Grove.

When Greta Gerwig’s movie, “Barbie,” hit theaters last July, it became an instant hit, with groups of friends returning to theaters to watch it multiple times. Barbie has long been an icon, one that has (re-)captured the interest of Kate Monaghan, a trained sociologist who’s interested in Barbie’s impact on American culture. After retiring in 2019, Monaghan fell in love with collecting the dolls and their clothing from reasonably-priced sources. Her lecture about “Barbie: The toy, the doll, the icon!” takes place Tuesday morning, with a screening of the “Barbie” movie to follow that evening in the Auditorium at 7:45 p.m.

Additional events include:

Friday, July 12, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel — Dr. Robert Pearigen lectures on “The Ever-Changing Trends of Getting into College and How Sewanee Has Adapted.”

Friday, July 12, 2:30 p.m., Writers’ Grove (rain location: Warren Chapel) — Rabbi Bruce Alt reads from Dr. Marc Grobin’s book, “Healing the Heart of Conflict.”

Saturday, July 13, 5:30-8:15 p.m., The Mall — Jazz Picnic with Art Four Sale Band. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Monday, July 15, 6:00 p.m., Mall Gazebo — Final Crossings gospel band performs before Twilight Prayers, which begins at 7:00 pm.

Tuesday, July 16, 2:30 p.m., Pulliam Center — The Art of Flower Pressing workshop, with Capell Simmons instructing. Advance registration required; $30 materials fee.

Tuesday, July 16, 3 p.m., Harton Hall — Cooking Demonstration and Tasting with Chef Tom. Advance registration required; $20 fee.

Thursday, July 18, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel — The Whimsical and Amazing Furniture of Tommy Simpson lecture with Oscar Fitzgerald.

Thursday, July 18, 3:30 p.m., Lexington cottage (#9)—Special program on Creating Non-Alcoholic Cocktails with Jim Rogan, mixologist and presenter. Advance registration required.

Friday, July 19, Assembly Grounds — 60th Woman’s Association Cottage Tour (10 a.m.–3 p.m.) and Bazaar (9 a.m.–3 p.m.). Car pass, tour ticket, and box lunch may be reserved and paid online or at the MSSA office.

The Mission of the MSSA is to be a welcoming community of Christian faith where people gather to engage in spiritual growth and renewal, lifelong inquiry and learning, recreational, and cultural enrichment, while being good stewards of our natural resources and our Assembly heritage.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“You’re not buying doors, you’re buying time,” said Director of Schools Cary Holman at the July 8 meeting of the Franklin County School Board commenting on the ultra-secure storm doors being installed in the vestibules at all county schools. Holman provided an overview of the security upgrade and other recent school renovations paid for with Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. In regular business, the board took up policy changes impacting how much TCAP scores counted in students’ grades and the consequences for students attending school “under the influence” of alcohol or drugs.

The board viewed a video demonstrating the features of the new storm doors coated with a protective film. In the video, the doors deterred bullets, cement blocks, axes and sledgehammers. In addition, the protective film completely blocks those outside the building from seeing inside while allowing those inside a full view of the outside. Other projects paid for with ESSER money included renovating gym floors, some of which have received no maintenance in over 16 years. “Going forward all schools will be on a rotating maintenance cycle so we don’t come into this issue again,” Holman said.

The board reviewed and approved 16 proposed policy changes, some with additional revision. “[The changes] are mostly verbiage due to a change in law or recommendations from the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA),” said Board Chair Cleijo Walker. Board members raised questions about several of the recommended changes.

The amended Family Life Education policy calls for showing students an “ultrasound of at least three minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and other vital organ in early prenatal development.” The Tennessee legislature mandated the requirement. “Some [children] might get upset over things they’re asked to watch,” board member Sandy Schultz. She asked if parents would be notified about the ultrasound viewing and if parents could request their child “opt out.” “I would imagine the school will make appropriate accommodations,” Holman said.

The amended Testing Programs policy removed the requirement that TCAP scores count in determining a student’s final grade for grades 3-8. Previously, for grades 3-5 TCAP scores counted 5 percent; for grades 6-8 TCAP scores counted 10 percent. “I don’t agree with the philosophy that when you give a kid a test it counts for nothing,” said Board Vice Chair Lance Williams. Shultz concurred. “Without accountability, some won’t try as hard.” Board members Linda Jones, Sara Leichty, and Sarah Marhevsky argued for zero percent weighting of TCAP scores in final the grades of younger students. “We should trust that teachers are assessing their student’s progress based on what’s taught in the class,” Marhevsky said. “Standardized testing is stressful enough,” said Jones. The board voted to weigh TCAP scores at 5 percent for grades 6-8 and zero percent for grades 3-5. Marhevsky voted against the change.

Marhevsky also took issue with the Code of Conduct policy citing “under the influence” as a “misbehavior” for both Level 3 and Level 5 offenses. Marhevsky pointed out the other Level 5 misbehaviors impacted others and being “under the influence” did not. She recommended “under the influence” be removed from the Level 5 misbehavior list. Level 5 misbehavior can have more severe consequences. Holman noted the Level 3 and Level 5 misbehaviors referenced being “under the influence” of different types of substances. The Level 3 description cited “under the influence of tobacco or alcohol or non-THC vape product,” while the Level 5 description cited “under the influence of any narcotic or stimulant drug, prescription drug, or any other controlled substance.” The board voted to approve the policy change, with Marhevsky voting “no.”

Holman brought another new requirement to the board’s attention: school buses must post a notice, “No unauthorized persons may enter the bus.” Sometimes parents entered buses, Holman observed. “Without that statement, the county could be prosecuted,” said Deputy Director of Finance Jennie Phillips.

Commenting on the new practice of asking teachers leaving the district to fill out Exit Surveys, Human Resources Supervisor Roger Alsup said when asked about the reason for leaving, no respondees cited salary, working conditions, or their supervisor; 8 percent cited relocation; 41 percent cited personal reasons; and 58 percent cited retirement. “I think that’s very positive. We’re getting some good feedback,” Alsup said.

Marhevsy’s legislative update called attention to several new laws impacting teachers and schools. A state issued teaching license will now certify a teacher for eight years, instead of six; school boards must adopt a policy governing ChatGPT and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms that enable students to use AI to complete assignments; and data from students transferring into a school after December 31 will not be included in the calculation of a school’s letter grade. Looking to the future, Marhevsky said the TSBA had put out a call for resolutions governing public education practices to present to the state legislature when it resumes meeting in October.