by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Locals art gallery on University Avenue is in the midst of hosting its final season. Constructed on a lease dating back to 1895, the building formerly housed the Duck River Electric Office, a bank, and a laundry that struggled with adapting to laundering women’s clothes when the University first began admitting women in 1969. In its grand and fitting iteration as “Locals,” the iconic building has showcased more than 20 local artists over the past 15 years, a vision dreamed into being by John and Melissa Goodson.

John Goodson’s father, Mercer Logan Goodson, was born in Sewanee, and like his father before him, became an Episcopal priest. Raised in Texas, John attended St. Andrew’s School as a boarding student and persuaded his father to buy land and build a cabin in Sewanee. In 2004 John purchased the University Avenue building and a large tract of land adjacent to Lost Cove from Ina Mae Myers, a longtime family friend. John’s vision for the land was Myers Point subdivision, a housing development celebrating the pristine natural beauty of the property. The future of the University Avenue building fell to Melissa.

“I thought a coffee shop or gallery,” said Melissa. “We didn’t want to compete with existing businesses. A gallery featuring local artists was the first best thing.” With a 28-year career as a publicist and coordinating tour advance for pro-sports and music professionals, Melissa’s creative gifts as a writer found a perfect fit promoting local artists. And what was John’s role?

“I like creating and building beautiful things,” John said. Since wresting the building away from the laundry, Ina Mae Myers had occasionally hosted antique consignment sales there. John undertook a five-year renovation. “I gutted the whole thing,” John acknowledged. “But I wanted to maintain the original profile. I kept the window trim, bricked the inside, built the fireplace, put in Brazilian hardwood floors and a tin ceiling, a new roof, HVAC, bathrooms in the back.”

Appropriately, John and contractor Bill Mauzy engaged all local craftsmen to do the renovation work. And in 2009, Locals opened its doors, featuring four local artists handpicked by Melissa: Jimmy Abegg, Tom and Susan Church, and Sanford McGee. Melissa defines local as “Sewanee and one degree of separation.” Melissa had met the Church’s, whose studio is in Belvidere, at a crafts fair in Nashville where she purchased a hand-turned wooden bowl from Tom. Abegg and McGee were personal friends.

“Locals needed to be there. It’s become an outlet for amazing artists,” Melissa insisted. “It’s so exciting to see the artists bring in new work.” Another local connection has graced the gallery in the person of Ashley Charlton. Ashley’s mother Beth Charlton taught both of the Goodson’s children at Sewanee Elementary. Melissa and Ashley shared common ground through careers in media and journalism and a friendship evolved. Ashley occasionally subbed for Melissa at the gallery. She came on board full time when she moved back to Sewanee in 2013, deep diving into curating displays and selecting artists.

The gallery hosts a stable of regulars and one or two new artists each season, with seasons running from September Parent’s Weekend to Christmas and April through July. “There are so many gifted local artists to choose from,” Ashley said, “and so much unique diversity.” She cited the bronze sculpture of Alto artist Jeanie Stephenson and the hand blown glasswork of Thomas Spake from Jasper. Ahsley keeps an eye out for new talent by following local arts organizations. She cherishes developing relationships with the gallery’s artists. “I want to get to know them personally, and when they live nearby, they can stop in to visit.”

Melissa concurs. For her the Locals artists are “family. We’ve all become friends.” The current exhibit features painter Heide Kuster and potter Mack Croom, the son of two former Sewanee professors.

So why is the gallery closing? “I’m 65 years old,” John conceded. “It’s time,” Melissa agreed. “John tells me I’m retired,” she joked. “It’s been a labor of love,” John said. “Melissa’s passion was the local artists and mine was renovating the building.”

In the past, Locals has occasionally hosted events, including class reunions and an Obama inauguration celebration. John plans to make the building available as an event space. “It’s a party house,” he observed, pointing to the building’s suitability as a perfect venue for rehearsal dinners, meetings, and luncheons. John anticipates eventually selling the building.

“The building is historical,” Ashley remarked. “It traces back to the birth of the University. People like John Goodson put their efforts into keeping these little gems that have such rich history, making them new while sustaining their old qualities. There are so many great things the building could be.”

“Locals has been a beautiful gift to us for 15 years,” Melissa said, clearly saddened by the farewell. A goodbye party during the Sewanee artists’ studio tour in December is a possibility. Stay tuned.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Oct. 28 Sewanee Community Council meeting, Traffic Committee Chair Michael Payne reported on plans for more speed humps on campus and a Project Funding grant request to help offset the cost. Election Officer Ben Tarhan updated the council on additional candidates qualifying for the upcoming council representative election.

“The new speed humps the University put in have been beneficial,” Payne said, “and have served the intended purpose to slow vehicles down to a safer speed. The University has $6,000 in available funds to put towards additional traffic calming speed humps.” Payne proposed the council contribute $6,000 in matching funds and has applied for a Project Funding Grant for that purpose. Twelve-thousand dollars would pay for at least four complete sets, with speed humps on both sides of the road. Payne suggested the speed humps be installed on streets with high traffic flow and no sidewalks.

Provost Scott Wilson said the speed humps recently installed on Green’s View Road and Tennessee Avenue were paid for with a Tennessee Department of Safety grant with the requirement, “to make the campus more secure.” The criterion guided the decision to put the speed humps where there was significant student traffic. In discussions with the police, Alabama and Kentucky Avenue were also mentioned as possible locations, Wilson noted. Council member Evelyn Patton recommended Kennerly Avenue be considered, as well, and representative Marilyn Phelps recommended Florida Avenue. Payne stressed the decision about where to put the speed humps would fall to the University.

Updating the council on the Project Funding grant application process, council member June Weber said the application deadline had closed. The committee received five applications with the requested amounts totaling more than the $16,304 available. The program offers $10,000 annually in grants, but last year the full amount was not awarded, upping the available amount this year. “All the applications were very good,” Weber observed. “We hope to have an answer in a couple weeks.” The council will vote by email to avoid waiting until the January meeting to announce a decision.

Tarhan said the deadline for turning in signature petitions for the council election had been extended to Oct. 30. No candidates had declared themselves for Districts 1, 2, and 3 as of the original Oct. 14 deadline. Superintendent of Leases Sally Green reported recently receiving qualifying petitions from Walker Adams for the District 2 seat and from Ed Hawkins for the District 3 seat. Tarhan is trying to find a candidate for District 1. He anticipates early voting at the Lease Office will continue.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“I’m working on a three penny sales tax on gasoline,” said Alderman Dan Sargent at the Oct. 28 Monteagle Council meeting, reporting on his efforts on the town’s behalf to allow Monteagle to tax vehicle fuel sold at the pump. “It [the revenue] could build roads, we need a new lake. It would take a couple million for that. Monteagle has a water problem.” In regular business, the council approved purchase of a new one-ton dump truck and accepted the donation of a snowplow attachment for the truck. Beautification and Tree Committee Chair Martha Ann Pilcher updated the council and residents on Monteagle’s holiday plans.

Sargent explained levying a gasoline sales tax would require state and possibly federal approval. He has contacted Senator Bill Hagerty for assistance. “The revenue from the Pilot alone could yield $2 million annually,” Sargent said. “The revenue would come primarily from tourists.” The tax would be added to the fuel price at the pump.

Commenting on Monteagle’s water supply, Mayor Greg Maloof said Laurel Lake had dropped to seven feet, and Monteagle was buying water from Tracy City. During the upcoming repair to the basin at the water plant, Tracy City would supply all Monteagle’s water. Tracy City should be able to accommodate Monteagle’s needs, according to Maloof, allowing Monteagle to keep the water in Laurel Lake on reserve for fire protection. Maloof urged conservation even though the town was not under a drought mandate at the present.

The new dump truck for the Street Department would cost $58,000, Maloof said. The budget allocated $90,000 for the purchase. Sargent observed purchasing the truck from Gov Deals saved the town money, as much as 15-20 percent. The new truck will replace two beyond-repair vehicles. Alderman Nate Wilson speculated the two retired vehicles might bring as much as $5,000 when sold, making the new truck expenditure half the budgeted amount. Commenting on the donated snowplow, Maloof pointed out, “The state plows Main Street, but we have a lot of side roads.”

Monteagle’s Christmas parade is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7. The town received a $35,000 grant to repair the electrical outlets used to illuminate holiday decorations downtown. Pilcher hopes the lighting of the Christmas trees on Main Street can be coordinated with Santa passing in the parade. Monteagle is hosting a scavenger hunt where participants are challenged to find ornaments on the Main Street trees. Winners will be announced at the Hannah Pickett Park festivities following the parade. Under the direction of City Recorder Debbie Taylor, the staff at city hall is conducting a Toys for Tots campaign and welcomes cash donations for purchasing Christmas morning gifts for children from needy families.

Pilcher also updated the council and residents on other Beautification Committee projects. The committee has applied for a $1 million grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield for new playground equipment for Hannah Pickett Park. The committee received $10,000 from the South Cumberland Community Fund for a sign for Monteagle Elementary School. The sign stand will be constructed of mountain stone.

Reporting on plans to hire a consultant to assist Monteagle with zoning definitions and mapping, Wilson said he would submit the Request for Proposals to the council and planning commission for review. On Monteagle’s behalf, Wilson has applied for a $65,000 grant to help offset the cost of the consultant.

Police Chief William Raline brought two issues to the community’s attention. The Police Department had received complaints about issuing too many traffic violations. In October, the department issued significantly fewer citations. Vehicle crashes increased from six to 16 in one month’s time. “You have to ask yourself would you rather have more citations, or would you rather have more crashes?” Raline said. He also reported on five Identity Theft incidents, mail and phone scams where the contacting party claimed to be the IRS and threatened arrest to gain credit card and bank account information. The scammers typically targeted the elderly, according to Raline. He advised residents victimized by scammers to contact the Police Department.

The council approved combining the 2021 zoning ordinance and all subsequent amendments in a single document.

The council meets next Nov. 18, rather than the last Monday, to avoid conflict with the Thanksgiving holiday.

Every year since 1987, the Sewanee Review has honored a distinguished poet in the maturity of their career with the Aiken Taylor Award in Modern American Poetry. This year we are recognizing Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown. Brown is the author of many collections of poetry including “The New Testament,” “Please,” and “The Tradition,” which won the Pulitzer Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

The celebration will take place on Nov. 11 and Nov, 12, 2024. University Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen and Sewanee Review editor Adam Ross will present Brown with the award at 4:30 p.m., Nov. 11, in Convocation Hall, after which Brown will read from his body of work.

On Nov. 12, at 4:30 pm, Meta DuEwa Jones will lecture on Brown’s poetry in the McGriff Alumni House. Jones is a critic, scholar, and professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the author of “The Muse is Music: Jazz Poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to the Spoken Word” (University of Illinois, 2011), awarded an honorable mention for the MLA William Sanders Scarborough Prize.

Tennessee Craft-South invites the public to its annual Holiday Studio Tour on the mountain, Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and Sunday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST. Tennessee Craft-South is the regional branch of Tennessee Craft, the state-wide organization which supports and promotes all handmade crafts in Tennessee.

Local and regional artists will show their work during the weekend: textiles, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, paintings, metal work, and woodwork. Sewanee artist studios open to the public include those of Pippa Browne, Diane Getty, Ben Potter, Claire Reishman, and Merissa Tobler. Other Sewanee locations are the American Legion Hall, Spencer Room at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, Locals Gallery, Stirlings, and The Frame Gallery. Monteagle locations include Cheryl Lankhaar’s studio, The Gallery at Monteagle Assembly, and Hallelujah Pottery. Light refreshments will be available at most locations.

Once again, there is a group exhibition of multiple artists’ work in the St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Art Gallery, located in the center of the Simmonds Building at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. While many sites host individual artists’ work, the SAS Art Gallery presents an exhibition of Tennessee Craft-South members’ work as well as that of SAS faculty and students.

A special fourth year addition to the Tour is the Empty Tables project, an artist initiative sponsored by Tennessee Craft-South — partnering with Rooted Here, the Community Action Committee, Grundy County Food Bank and Morton Memorial Church — designed to address local hunger. Participating artists will set aside time to create art celebrating the growing, serving, and eating of food: bowls, plates, napkins, paintings, candlesticks, etc. These art pieces will be available at the American Legion Hall, in exchange for a donation. All proceeds will be used to purchase food for those in need.

There are six sponsors for the Holiday Studio Tour this year: The Blue Chair, Hallelujah Pottery, The Lemon Fair, Locals, Mooney’s, and Shull Chiropractic. Studio Tour brochures are available at each of these local businesses and at all participating studios.

Bright yellow signs mark the tour route and maps are available at all locations on the tour as well as at all sponsors’ locations, in the Sewanee Mountain Messenger, and on the Tennessee Craft website <http://tennesseecraft.org/members/chapters/south/;.

We look forward to welcoming the extended Sewanee family back into All Saints’ Chapel in 2024. With seats for over 1,000 guests, we anticipate being able to seat every person who comes to worship in All Saints’ Chapel. Two services — Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. — feature walk-up seating, and doors will open an hour in advance of the service. The 7 p.m. service on Saturday, Dec. 7 will be live-streamed for friends and family who are unable to attend in person. Reserved seating for the 4 p.m. service on Saturday, Dec. 7 will be made available to students and employees of the University on or shortly after Nov. 1. Please note that large bags or backpacks will not be allowed in All Saints’ Chapel. Email us with questions at <lessonsandcarols@sewanee.edu>.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Attaching prophetic significance to a comet in a musical that retells history with a techno-funk flare sounds enchanting, but perhaps impossible. Nevertheless, Dave Malloy expertly pulls it off in “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.” And rising to the challenge, the University Theater Department’s production of Malloy’s musical promises to delight and intrigue with the same enchanting debonair. “This is the most musically complex show we’ve ever attempted,” confessed Theater Department chair Jim Crawford. Featuring 22 student performers and eight student musicians, the sung-through narrative with only one line of dialogue captures a 70-page slice of “War and Peace” Tolstoy called “the crux” of his 1,200-page novel. Malloy admitted he often experienced classical literature with a mixed reaction — “man, people were ridiculous back then’ is closely followed by a moment of ‘oh my God, I said that yesterday.’” The electro-pop opera “The Great Comet” is Malloy’s response to his double-sided experience, what he describes as “communing with another time and place … ironically and sincerely at the same time.”

Crawford compared “Comet” to “Hamilton,” “taking something from 200 years ago and telling it through a very contemporary lens.” Likewise, the music goes back and forth from opera to pop to techno. “There’s a recorded track that includes techo-funk sound cues that have to be incorporated with the live musicians,” Crawford said. “It has pushed us to the limit of embracing new technology and a really demanding score. A big part of the job has been assembling a group of people that could meet all the different demands of the show.”

“When we chose this show, we didn’t know how we were going to make it work,” Crawford acknowledged. “I put forth into the universe a combination of optimism and relentlessness.”

Foremost among Comet’s challenges was the highly complex music with its diverse array of styles. Crawford reached out to his theater connections to find a musical supervisor. A friend from the Nashville theater group pointed him to Stan Tucker, the famous Broadway conductor and director whose credits included “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Tucker recently retired and moved back to Nashville. “When we talked over the phone, we hit it off immediately,” Crawford said. Tucker agreed to teach the orchestra and cast the music but wouldn’t be available to carry the show through to production. The stars aligned for Crawford a second time. Tucker passed the baton to career opera singer and director Steven Carpenter who recently moved to Sewanee with his wife, Chaplain Amanda Gott.

“It takes a village to produce a show this big,” Crawford insisted. Russian professor Mark Preslar gave the cast a primer session on Tolstoy. Voice teacher Kerry Ginger worked individually with some of the soloists. The orchestra borrowed two gifted student musicians from St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. The program lists over 100 credits.

The tale follows two charming, flawed young people whose plot lines intersect: Natasha, a selfish, philosophical 13-year-old who is ruthlessly seduced and the awkward mystic, Pierre, disillusioned with people being after his money.

For Sewanee senior Harrison Best, playing Pierre marks a first. Best is in the choir and frequently performed in plays before college, but the poli-sci major never auditioned for a play at Sewanee before. Best said of the role, “It’s really complex rhythm wise, as well as range and pitch. I had to hit some rockin’ high notes. I had to work up to. It showed me I’m more capable of some things than I thought I was.” Best’s career plans are uncertain, but the future has a new glow.

Playing the piano for “The Great Comet” had a similar revelatory effect on Carl Erickson. Crawford met Erickson when Erickson participated in a summer abroad program in England led by Crawford. For Crawford, who needed a skilled pianist for the show, meeting Erickson was another stars-aligning gift. For Erickson, the stars realigned. Erickson never played for a theater performance before. “It was a lot of work,” Erickson said. “But I liked doing it. It was really fun.” Erickson is rethinking his goal of being a studio musician when he graduates in May

The musical closes with long-disillusioned Pierre experiencing an epiphany and seeing the great comet. Commenting on the significance, Rachel Chavkin who served as the first director of the musical said, “Almost immediately after the events depicted in this section [of the novel], Napoleon invades, and Moscow will be burned to the ground. Like the novel, ‘Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet’ is about the small humans at sea in the vast confusion of history.”

Crawford expands on this idea. “Pierre begins to feel hope again,” Crawford observed. “He sees the comet, and it becomes a symbol for him of a way to move forward and of goodness in the universe.”

Timely for sure, in a world fraught with international warfare and contentious politics, “The Great Comet” will be performed Oct. 25–27 and Oct. 31–Nov. 3, 2024, at the Tennessee Williams Center. Admission is free. Reserve tickets from Eventbrite.

The Department of Theatre and Dance presents distinguished alumni answering the question “What can you do with a degree in theatre?” The event will be from 3–4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, at the Proctor Hill Theater at the Tennessee Williams Center. The public is invited to attend.

Few instrumental duos can ignite the senses as a solo trumpet paired with the mighty pipe organ. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, All Saints’ Chapel will present Sewanee University Organist Dr. Geoffrey Harris Ward and Dr. Joel Treybig, Professor of Trumpet at Belmont University, in a recital of majestic works to raise the roof and reflective selections to sooth the soul.

Dr. Ward has performed organ recitals across the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Westminster Abbey, London, has invited him to play a solo recital on their prestigious series in the summer of 2025.

Dr. Treybig has performed with symphony orchestras in many states, as principal trumpet with Nashville Opera and Nashville Ballet, and with the Belmont Brass Quintet. His performances have been widely broadcast and streamed, and he is a Yamaha Performing Artist, performing exclusively on Yamaha instruments. While the two musicians have collaborated on numerous choral performances and services, this will be their first recital together demonstrating their solo artistry.

All Saints’ Chapel, blessed with exceptional acoustics and one of the most beautiful Anglican houses of worship in the United States, provides the ideal setting for this unique experience. The Casavant Organ, boasting 51 stops and 67 ranks of pipe, will make the most of its moveable platform to place the organ console front and center, a feat few organs can manage. Attendees will be able to see the impressive keyboard and pedal work on full display.

The program will showcase the full resources of the pipe organ in combination with the clarion and dulcet voices of solo trumpet. You will hear stately English works including the well-known “Prince of Denmark’s March” by Jeremiah Clark and “Master Tallis’ Testament” by Herbert Howells, stirring hymn arrangements, and newer works by Hans Andre Stamm and Alan Hovhanness that leave one breathless due to their virtuosic demands and expressive harmonies. No organ concert is complete without Bach, who is considered by many to be the finest composer of all time for the organ. The program features Bach’s beautiful “Bist du bei mir” and his “Fantasy in g.”

The recital is free and open to the public and will be approximately one hour in length. Follow all of the University Choir’s performances and activities on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @SewaneeChoir and visit our website: <www.sewanee.edu/universitychoir>.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

On Nov. 5, the Sewanee Community Council will elect one representative for each of the four districts and two at-large representatives. Read on to learn why the candidates want to serve on the council and what special skills and qualifications they will bring to the role of council representative. Note: At the time of publication, the Messenger had not received information on candidates for some districts.

Katie Gohn, Candidate for District 4. Gohn is a librarian and faculty member at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Gohn is quick to point out her most important qualification for serving on the council is being a member of the Sewanee community. She has lived in Sewanee for the past seven years. Gohn is the wife of a fulltime Sewanee employee and the “mom” to two daughters who attend school at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee and Sewanee Elementary. Why does Gohn want to serve on the council? “I’m interested in not simply talking about problems,” Gohn said, “but in finding mutually beneficial solutions that make Sewanee the best place to live, work, learn, and raise a family.”

Bill Harper, District Four Candidate. If elected, current at-large representative Bill Harper will begin a second council term. A University graduate with a career as a Wall Street financial advisor, in 2006 Harper and his wife Knowles bought a second home in Sewanee and became fulltime residents in 2009. An enthusiastic volunteer, Harper has served as a University trustee, President of the Sewanee Club, President of the Greek Alumni Council, served on the task force on narcotic and alcohol abuse and South Cumberland Community Fund board, and with Knowles co-chaired the Community Chest fund drive. “I appreciate that the University is interested in the perspective of the broader community,” Harper said, “and believe I can help provide that.”

Evelyn Patton, At-large Candidate. Born in Sewanee in what is now a residence hall, Patton was in the last graduating class at the Sewanee Academy. Following graduation from the University EMT program, Patton served as a Franklin and Grundy County EMT for many years. In 2017, she joined the Wellness Center staff as Medical Office Senior Patient Coordinator. She has served as an appointed council representative since March 2023, is a member of the Pink Ribbon Society, and also serves as President of the St. Mark’s Community Center where she has inspired enthusiastic community involvement in restoration and recruitment campaigns. Why does she want to serve on the council? “The community needs representation from folks that love this community.”

Phil White, At-Large Candidate. White has served 18 years on the council where he worked to resolve the airport light issue and actively and successfully campaigned for reduction of the transfer fee, creation of the Sewanee Dog Park, and establishing the annual community spring cleanup. A graduate of Sewanee and Peabody of Vanderbilt, White came to Sewanee as a student in 1959 and never left. He taught and coached at the Sewanee Military Academy, the Sewanee Academy, and St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. “I have always maintained close relationships with both University employees and local residents,” White said. “I want to continue to work for the good of the community.”

Criminal Threats Pose Risk to Public Safety

NASHVILLE – Effective immediately, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) is suspending public access to the eastern half of Franklin State Forest in Franklin and Marion Counties. This step follows serious threats against the safety of visitors to and professionals working within the forest.

This week, criminals claimed to have spiked areas of the forest where loggers are conducting a harvest operation. If areas have been spiked, this poses a very serious threat to the safety of forest visitors, state forest management staff, and logging crews, as well as locals employed at sawmills.

Spiking is a form of forest industry sabotage where a metal rod or other material is hammered into a tree trunk either near the base of a tree where a logger or firefighter might cut, or higher up where it would affect a sawmill. Contact with the spike damages saw blades, can cause flying metal and wood pieces, and make chainsaws kickback, which can result in serious injuries or death to workers or wildland firefighters. Spiking also negatively impacts tree health by creating a pathway for pests and infections to enter the tree.

“Due to these dangerous criminal activities, we must once again restrict access to Franklin State Forest to protect visitors and professionals on the forest,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “Tree spiking poses a serious risk of injury or death during both harvesting and processing. If those responsible for the threats have placed spikes, they are endangering lives, which is absolutely unacceptable.”

The Tennessee Agricultural Crime Unit (ACU) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are conducting a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.

“We believe these threats to be connected to opposition to active management practices on Franklin State Forest,” State Forest Unit Leader Andy McBride said. “The state forest system exists, first and foremost, to demonstrate sustainable forest resource management. We take that responsibility seriously and will continue to implement appropriate forest management strategies that promote the regeneration and maturation of healthy and sustainable forests and support local economies in the forest industry.”

During the investigation, and until the area is determined to be safe for all visitors, the section of the forest to the east of State Highway 156 is closed to all public access, including foot traffic, horseback riding, bicycles, ATVs, and other motorized vehicles.

This partial closure will have no impact to access to state forest land to the west of State Highway 156. The public is still welcome to recreate on the western side of the forest in accordance with existing usage rules.

Roads and trails designated for foot traffic, non-motorized use (i.e. hiking, biking, and horseback riding), and motorized vehicles (cars and OHVs) remain unchanged at this time. Visitors can find information and road usage maps for Franklin State Forest at www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/state-forests/franklin.html.

Closed areas will be marked by locked gates or signs. Law enforcement officers are monitoring the area. Trespassing in closed areas is against the law and may lead to civil penalties and/or criminal charges.

This is not the first incident on Franklin State Forest this year. Sometime during July 10-14, equipment was stolen and five TDF dozers and one dozer transport, all primarily used for wildfire suppression, were vandalized, rendering the equipment inoperable and causing at least $1 million in damage.

Immediately following that incident, TDF temporarily closed the forest to the public to enable law enforcement agencies to collect evidence. Three individuals trespassed into the closed area and then attempted to evade law enforcement. ACU Special Agents apprehended those individuals who were charged with felonies and misdemeanors for evading arrest.

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

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact ACU at 844-AG-CRIME (844-242-7463) or agriculture.crime@tn.gov.

Details on the incident can be found in the TDA newsroom at the following links:

July vandalism incident press release: www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2024/7/16/state-forest-closed-to-the-public-during-investigation.html.

August follow up press release: www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2024/8/26/franklin-state-forest-reopens-to-the-public.html

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Oct. 14 Franklin County School Board meeting, Director of Schools Cary Holman introduced the Partnership Academic Lab Sessions initiative (PALS) which seeks to foster parent knowledge about their children’s school experience through sessions held at the parents’ place of employment. In discussion about the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Accountability Report, Holman explained the goals and metrics used. The report showed Franklin County third graders fell below the 2023-2024 goal in ELA (English Language Arts) but exceeded the goal in math. The board approved several policy amendments driven by local considerations.

“Due to the complexity of work schedules and time constraints, parents sometimes are limited in their ability to get to the school or totally grasp the many learning targets associated with academic and social learning,” Holman said, emphasizing the significance of parent involvement and need for the PALS initiative. “Many parents work during the day and can’t get to school programs. Some parents work second shift and can’t get to parent teacher conferences. We’re pitching the idea to industries and hope they will allow us to come in, rather than waiting for parents to come to us.” The program would offer 20-30 minute monthly sessions for parents during work hours.

Taking up the TISA Accountability Report, Homan said, “We have five years to show we’re making progress.” The new TISA funding formula adopted by the state requires school districts to set a goal of reading proficiency by third grade. In addition to a third grade ELA goal, Franklin County also set a third-grade math goal. With 38 percent ELA proficiency, the district fell 2 percent below the 40 percent goal for the 2023-2024 school year. But Holman stressed, “We reduced the gap enough to show we’re making progress.” The five-year ELA goal is 58 percent proficiency by the end of the 2027-2028 school year. For math, the district exceeded the 31.1 percent proficiency goal, with third graders showing 34.4 percent proficiency at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. As a consequence, the district may achieve the five-year goal of 50 percent proficiency sooner than expected.

Human Resources Supervisor Roger Alsup described the recommended policy changes as “minor modifications.” The Safety policy added the criterion of a “school reunification plan” to the list of preparedness requirements for addressing fire, severe weather, earthquake, bomb threat and other safety hazards. The Use of School Facilities policy, while giving priority to school sponsored events over public sponsored events, added language stating, “In the event a scheduling conflict exists in regard to requested use of school facilities … this policy does not permit the cancellation of an already approved facility use agreement by an outside group.” Providing background, Alsup said in the past a school group requested use of a facility after an outside group had been granted use of the facility and spent money on advertising and coordinating the planned event. “I remember when that happened,” said Board Chair CleiJo Walker, citing unpleasant repercussions. The policy change was needed “to be fair to our community members,” Alsup said.

The change to the School Nutrition policy added updated information on filing a USDA Complaint Form. The amended Insurance Management policy removed a reference to long-term disability insurance. “You [the board] did away with that two years ago,” said Deputy Director of Finances Jenny Phillips. The amended Insurance Management policy added a clause providing life insurance for all employees.

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Oct. 15 meeting, the Sewanee Utility District Board of Commissioners grappled with a request by Maple Street customers to reactivate a capped off fire hydrant, stymied by parts availability and line size issues. The board also took up a request from Monteagle to supply the town with 150,000 gallons of water per day.

Representing Maple Street residents, Bruce McMillan and Beeler Brush presented a petition asking to have the capped off hydrant turned on. SUD manager Ben Beavers explained repair parts were not available for the hydrant installed in 1957 and current regulations required at least a six-inch line for a hydrant, when the Maple Street water service line was only four inches.

“The hydrant not working there may not be as big a threat as you perceive,” said Board President Charlie Smith, who has 41-years of service as a fire fighter. “If the fire department can’t knock down a fire with the water on the truck, your place is in jeopardy regardless.”

“What if there are two fires going on at the same time?” asked McMillan.

“The most cost-effective solution would be a hydrant at the corner of Kentucky Avenue and the highway,” said Beavers. For Maple Street residents, a hydrant located there would satisfy insurance requirements for a hydrant within 1,000 feet of a home to earn a rate reduction. A hydrant would cost $5,000. Locating a hydrant on Maple Street would include the cost of the hydrant plus the cost of a larger service line, $200 per foot. “The Kentucky Avenue option would be good for downtown, as well,” Smith observed.

Providing background on Monteagle’s request for water, Smith described Mayor Greg Maloof as “panicked” by the town’s water shortage. In response, Monteagle has closed the interstate rest areas and initiated other water use restrictions. Smith cited several obstacles to granting Monteagle’s request.

“Opening the tap at the Monteagle-Sewanee connection is a lot more involved than I knew it to be,” Smith acknowledged. “They would have to flush both sides of the line. And we couldn’t get much more than 40,000 gallons a day without drawing down pressure in Midway.”

Smith also pointed to a more immediate difficulty. SUD’s water plant is presently working overtime to keep up with demand due to a kink in the Lake Jackson intake pipe caused by drift of the line. Beavers has arranged for divers to straighten the line and correct the kink, costing $5,000, provided no repairs are needed. SUD is on a waiting list to have the kink issue corrected.

“Right now I think we have too many impediments to pump any water to Monteagle,” Smith said. “We’re not in a good position to do anything.”

Beavers commented Monteagle had access to water from another lake, but there was no connection to Monteagle’s water system.

“We’re within a month of the wet season beginning at the end of October to mid-November,” Commissioner Doug Cameron said, pointing to historical data.

Reporting on the federally required lead and copper survey, Beavers said SUD has no lead service lines. However, the survey found more galvanized lines than expected. If galvanized lines are dug up, they would need to be replaced back to the main, Beavers stressed, since they likely had lead fittings. A sampling of water for lead and copper at 20 sites found traces of lead at two sites, but below the threshold limit. Amounts of copper fluctuated depending on the location.

The board may have an extra meeting in November to discuss budgeting. Beavers said the increase in prices would likely necessitate an increase in fees and rates.

Few instrumental duos can ignite the senses as solo trumpet paired with the mighty pipe organ. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, All Saints’ Chapel will present Sewanee University Organist Dr. Geoffrey Harris Ward and Dr. Joel Treybig, Professor of Trumpet at Belmont University, in a recital of majestic works to raise the roof and reflective selections to sooth the soul.

Dr. Ward has performed organ recitals across the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Westminster Abbey, London, has invited him to play a solo recital on their prestigious series in the summer of 2025. Dr. Treybig has performed with symphony orchestras in many states, as principal trumpet with Nashville Opera and Nashville Ballet, and with the Belmont Brass Quintet. His performances have been widely broadcast and streamed, and he is a Yamaha Performing Artist, performing exclusively on Yamaha instruments. While the two musicians have collaborated on numerous choral performances and services, this will be their first recital together demonstrating their solo artistry.

All Saints’ Chapel, blessed with exceptional acoustics and one of the most beautiful Anglican houses of worship in the United States, provides the ideal setting for this unique experience. The Casavant Organ, boasting 51 stops and 67 ranks of pipe, will make the most of its moveable platform to place the organ console front and center, a feat few organs can manage. Attendees will be able to see the impressive keyboard and pedal work on full display.

The program will showcase the full resources of the pipe organ in combination with the clarion and dulcet voices of solo trumpet. You will hear stately English works including the well-known “Prince of Denmark’s March” by Jeremiah Clark and “Master Tallis’ Testament” by Herbert Howells, stirring hymn arrangements, and newer works by Hans Andre Stamm and Alan Hovhanness that leave one breathless due to their virtuosic demands and expressive harmonies. No organ concert is complete without Bach, who is considered by many to be the finest composer of all time for the organ. The program features Bach’s beautiful “Bist du bei mir” and his “Fantasy in g.”

The recital is free and open to the public and will be approximately one hour in length. Follow all of the University Choir’s performances and activities on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @SewaneeChoir and visit our website: <www.sewanee.edu/universitychoir>.

Early Voting Starts Oct. 16

The next election is Nov. 5, 2024, for the State/Federal General Election. Early voting is Oct. 16–31, 2024. Absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 29, 2024.

For more information, go to Franklin County <http://franklincotn.us>;, phone (931) 967-1893. In Grundy County <http://grundycountytn.net>;, phone (931) 692-3551. In Marion County <www.marionvotes.com>, phone (423) 942-2108.

Contact information for election offices, sample ballots and more can also be found at <https://sos.tn.gov/elections&g...;.

Tennesseans voting should remember to bring valid state or federal photo identification with them to the polls. For information about what types of ID are acceptable, visit <GoVoteTN.com> or call (877) 850-4959. Voters can find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view sample ballots, see names of elected officials and districts, as well as access online election results through the application at <GoVoteTN.com>.

Early Voting Starts Oct. 16

The next election is Nov. 5, 2024, for the State/Federal General Election. Early voting is Oct. 16–31, 2024. Absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 29, 2024.

For more information, go to Franklin County <http://franklincotn.us>;, phone (931) 967-1893. In Grundy County <http://grundycountytn.net>;, phone (931) 692-3551. In Marion County <www.marionvotes.com>, phone (423) 942-2108.

Contact information for election offices, sample ballots and more can also be found at <https://sos.tn.gov/elections&g...;.

Tennesseans voting should remember to bring valid state or federal photo identification with them to the polls. For information about what types of ID are acceptable, visit <GoVoteTN.com> or call (877) 850-4959. Voters can find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view sample ballots, see names of elected officials and districts, as well as access online election results through the application at <GoVoteTN.com>.