SRO Vote Passes in Franklin County

On Friday, Jan. 25, the Franklin County Commissions approved (14–0 vote) an amended budget resolution on funding eight additional school resource officers (SROs). The amount of the funding was lessened to $220,000.

The commissioners also approved in a vote of 13–1 the school board resolution to fund the SRO program for the remainder of this school year from the unassigned fund balance and Basic Education Program funds.

The full story will be in the Feb. 1 issue of the Messenger.

SES Town Hall Meeting about School Officers Community Members, Educators, Officers Share Views

by K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer.

Members of the Sewanee community, including local educators, met with elected officials and members of area law enforcement agencies at the Sewanee Elementary School on Jan. 22 to discuss the proposal of placing school resource officers (SROs) in all county schools, including SES.

Currently there are four SROs: one is assigned to both middle schools, two are assigned to Franklin County High School and one is assigned to Huntland.

“Placing eight additional SROs in the schools would cost approximately $350,000 next year,” said school board member Chris McDonough.

“As elected officials, we are trying to make decisions as best we can. Putting armed guards in the schools and considering the associated costs is a big decision to make,” said McDonough. “We are dedicated to school safety and want to make sure we have safe places for our children.”

On Jan. 14, the school board approved a resolution to move $170,000 from its fund balance to pay for the SRO program for the remainder of this school year. Budget amendments have to be approved by the county commission.

“The county does not have the ability by law to raise funds in February,” said director of schools Rebecca Sharber. “We had some funds in the fund balance to use for this program. If the county commission does not commit to funding the program next year in its Jan. 25 meeting, we are not going to spend the $170,000. We are not cutting education spending,” said Sharber. 

“Secure facilities is the school board responsibility, and we are gathering that information and assessing ways to keep the schools safer,” said Sharber.

On Jan. 15, the county commission tabled its general county budget amendment vote to fund the SRO program next year in order to have more time to discuss this issue. The vote on this budget amendment is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, on the third floor of the courthouse in Winchester.

“Safety and security is on everyone’s mind right now,” said Sewanee Police Chief Marie Eldridge. 

“We can’t pretend that a tragedy is never going to happen here. I support SROs in the school system. It is a deterrent, not a guarantee that nothing bad will happen,” said Eldridge.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said, “Having this SRO program is a first step to increase safety in Franklin County schools.

“The next step is addressing mental health. Having social workers, law enforcement and educators working together to identify and address mental health issues is the third step,” said Fuller. “If this proposal is approved or not by the county commission on Jan. 25, we are still going to make some changes in school safety and security. Doing nothing is not an option,” he said. “This needs to be a progressive first step. We have set a goal and stated the amount of money needed to accomplish that goal.”

County Commissioner Johnny Hughes said, “Commissioner Sherwood Ebey and I take school security very seriously. This issue was suddenly handed to us and if the commission hadn’t voted to table it at our Jan. 15 meeting, it probably never would have passed. I would rather wait 10 days, hear from concerned citizens and get it right, rather than rush into something,” he said.

“If this issue had come up a few years ago, I would not have considered voting for it,” said Hughes. “I would hate to live in a world where evil wins. But this is not the same school climate as when I attended SES.”

Both commissioners agreed that “It is your money, and we want to know how people feel about this proposal.”

Some state lawmakers are proposing legislation to allow armed teachers in public schools.

“I am not comfortable being armed,” said SES fourth-grade teacher Rachel Reavis. “We do what we need to do to keep the children safe. It makes much more sense that a trained SRO be in the school rather than having a double role for the teachers,” said Reavis.

“If the SRO program saves one child and prevents one horrible event, it is worth it,” said Reavis.
People with concerns on the SRO proposal are encouraged to contact their elected county officials.

School Resource Officer Vote Expected Friday

The Franklin County Commissioners are expected to vote on funding for the proposed School Resource Officers at their meeting at 7 p.m., Jan. 25, in the General Sessions courtroom at the County Judicial Center, 360 Wilton Circle, Winchester. Complete details will be in next week’s Messenger. Until then, the Messenger will post the results at <www.sewaneemessenger.com>, on the Messenger’s Facebook page and to the Sewanee Classifieds list.

Data Mining and Politics Topic of Ebey Lecture

Rayid Ghani, C’99, will present the annual Sherwood Ebey Lecture on “The Role of Data, Technology and Analytics in the Presidential Election,” at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, in Convocation Hall on the Sewanee campus.

Ghani held the title “chief scientist” in the Obama for America 2012 campaign, focusing on analytics, technology and data. He will talk about how the Obama campaign used analytics to improve decision-making across the organization and will describe how data from a variety of sources was used to improve fund raising, volunteer activities and voter mobilization.

Ghani’s work focused on improving these campaign functions using analytics, social media and machine learning—developing algorithms to fine-tune messages to voters. He will discuss what kind of data was available to the campaign, what technologies were developed, and how the resulting products were used by the campaign. Although the focus will be on the election, Ghani will also discuss how some of the same techniques can make other organizations more successful through better use of data and analytics.

Before joining the campaign, Ghani was a senior research scientist and director of analytics research at Accenture Labs. He has more than 10 years of applied research and development experience in machine learning, data mining, text mining and other analytics areas across politics, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, intelligence and financial services industries.

His work has been featured in numerous publications, including Time, the New York Times, Slate, U.S. News & World Report and NBC.

The annual Sherwood Ebey Mathematics Lecture is an endowed lectureship with the goal of presenting mathematically sound ideas in a manner that makes them accessible to a general audience.

SUD Reviews Year-End Financials

by Leslie Lytle
Messenger Staff Writer

At the annual meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties on Jan. 22, manager Ben Beavers presented an overview of SUD’s 2012 financial statement. Beavers also reported on SUD’s authority to add fluoride to the water and on the inflow and infiltration (I&I) resulting from heavy rainfall.

SUD was over budget on water sales for 2012, Beavers said, and slightly below budget on sewer revenue. The water resource charge assessed to new water tap customers made up for the less than anticipated sewer revenue. SUD finished the year with total revenue 1.6 percent above budget. On the expense side, SUD finished the year 6.5 percent below budget. SUD’s water treatment cost was significantly less than anticipated, due to the lower than budgeted amount spent on chemicals. Beavers attributed the savings to improved efficiency of the water treatment process at the new water plant and the careful monitoring of SUD employees.

A customer’s question at the December meeting regarding SUD’s authority to add fluoride to the water it treats prompted Beavers to consult SUD’s attorney, Don Scholes. According to Scholes, no explicit law gives water utilities the authority to add fluoride, but because the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulates the amount of fluoride utilities can add, TDEC implicitly authorizes water utilities to add small quantities of fluoride.

In a discussion about 2012 rainfall levels, Beavers said rainfall for 2012 was slightly below average, but the I&I (the amount of storm water entering the sewer system) decreased from 170 percent in 2011 to 130 percent in 2012. This calculation is based on the difference between water sold and the amount of water returned via the sewer system for customers with both water and sewer service. Beavers attributed the reduced I&I to sewer rehabilitation in the Mikell Lane area. The Alto Road area, a significant source of I&I, is targeted for sewer repair in 2013. Excess I&I can lead to overflow and raw sewage spills. “SUD managed to stay ahead of I&I from recent heavy rainfall by running the sewer plant seven days a week,” Beavers said.

SUD has received the final report on the build-out study conducted by student intern Jane Brown. Brown’s analysis showed 953 available building lots in the SUD district and projected maximum development of approximately half the lots over the next 40 years. The study will aid SUD in determining future water supply needs. The study can be reviewed on the SUD website, <www.sewaneeutility.org>.

 The SUD commissioners decided to dedicate the April 23 meeting to a presentation by college students in a course taught by biology professor Deborah McGrath. The students will present a monitoring plan for seeking public comment on a constructed wetlands as a means of wastewater treatment. SUD is investigating acquiring funding for a pilot constructed wetlands in response to a feasibility study conducted jointly by the University of the South and University of Georgia.

Commissioner Ken Smith, the uncontested winner of the commissioner election, will be sworn in at the next SUD commissioners’ meeting scheduled for February 26.

Spies Tapped for Grundy County Food Bank

Sandy Spies has been chosen as the new director of the Grundy County Food Bank (GCFB), taking the reins from eight-year veterans Carol and Glenn Vanden Bosch, who are retiring.

During the VandenBoschs’ tenure, GCFB grew from a very small food pantry to one that now serves more than 240 families every month.

“They [Carol and Glenn] have led through a time of significant growth and change, and we are profoundly grateful for their leadership and dedication to feeding Grundy’s hungry,” said Spies. “I am excited to fill the position of director because it is important that we continue the mission of the Food Bank.”

Spies also announced that Lucy Campbell has agreed to act as volunteer coordinator, as volunteers are crucial to the operation’s functioning.

Food boxes are prepared every third Tuesday of the month and distributed every fourth Tuesday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Volunteer meetings are also held at those times. 

To volunteer or for more information about GCFB, call (931) 592-3631.

Meeting Location Changes for Friday Commissioners Vote

The Friday meeting of the Franklin County Commissioners will be at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25,  in the General Sessions courtroom at the County Judicial Center, 360 Wilton Circle, Winchester.

County Commission Meeting Location Changes

After setting the location for the Commissions Special Called Sessions next week, the Commissioners learned that the Annex Community Room was already booked all week.

Please note the following CHANGES OF LOCATION:

* Workshop Wednesday January 23, 2013

Annex Conference Room

* Special Called Session Friday January 25^th

Courthouse, 3^rd floor

Public Meeting on SROs set for 6 p.m., Tuesday at SES

There will be a public meeting for community members to express their opinions about the SRO proposal and funding options at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Sewanee Elementary School cafeteria.  

Franklin County Commissioners Table Budget Decision: Trying to Find Funding Solution for School Security Officers

The Franklin County Commissioners met on Jan. 15 to hear committee reports and discuss amending the general county budget next year to pay for special resource officers (SROs) in all schools. No action was taken, but the commissioners agreed to have a work session on Wednesday, Jan. 23, and to meet again in a special called meeting at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, to review the results of the work session and take a vote. Both meetings will take place in the Annex Building, 839 Dinah Shore Blvd., Winchester.

“Of course, on everyone’s mind is security and safety at our schools,” said Franklin County Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber. She reported to the commission that area police departments have been assessing the school buildings, and recommendations will be coming to the school board soon.

“The school board approved a resolution to fund the program for the remainder of the year,” Sharber said. [See adjacent story for details.] “Depending on what you decide on the county general budget, you may or may not need our resolution,” she said.

“We need SROs in our schools,” said County Mayor Richard Stewart. “And we need to use the money in the most economical way. Whether you decide to table or take this amendment to committee, we need to get something done quickly,” he said.

“We need to be very careful that we make the right decision, because funding goes on from here,” said County Commissioner David Eldridge.

“Have we thought through alternative issues and funding?” asked Eldridge. 

Eldridge then made a motion to table the issue, and schedule a work session with a representative of the County Technical Assistance Service (the state agency that aids county governments) on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in order “to explore options fully, and that we understand funding,” said Eldridge.

The commissioners voted 9 to 6 to table the amendment and send it to a work session at 6 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Annex Building.

“There are things we cannot do without having a workshop,” said commissioner Angie Fuller. “We are not against the SRO program, we just have to make sure what we are doing is right.”Commissioner Sherwood Ebey said, “The problem I have with this is that we have not been able to have a discussion.”

“We are not against SROs,” said commissioner Johnny Hughes. “We just have to be able to talk with people before deciding on this issue.”

Ebey and Hughes encourage concerned citizens to contact them with their thoughts on this issue. Fifth district school board representative Chris McDonough also welcomes input.

School Board Supports School Officers; No Vote Yet

The Franklin County School Board met in a regular session on Jan. 14 for updates on school safety, to consider assigning special resource officers (SROs) to all county schools, to vote on a resolution on a budget amendment for SROs and to review other resolutions on upcoming educational legislative issues. 

Since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the Franklin County sheriff’s department, city police departments and school supervisors have been reviewing safety issues in county schools.

Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber reported that police departments have gone to the schools and conducted a safety walk-through with the principals. Sheriff Tim Fuller will have a full report in the coming weeks on ways to improve organizational and facility safety.

“All the police departments (county and city) have made more of a presence known at the schools, whether it was driving by or entering the schools,” said Fuller. “This is a step to make all more comfortable with law enforcement in the schools.”

“The next step,” Fuller said, “is placing a special resource officer in all public county schools.”

“As of today, 39 counties in Tennessee are in the process of putting SROs in the public schools,” said Fuller. “This proposal is a good first step in increasing safety.”

The SROs will be post-certified police officers who have at least 3–5 years of experience. These officers will have both law enforcement training and special resource officer training. Fuller estimated it would take 30–45 days to get the SRO program implemented, once funding is in place.

Paying for the SROs the remainder of the year, from now through June, would come from the school board. Expenses for half a year of training and equipment are projected to be $170,000. The money for the remainder of the year would come from the state’s Basic Education Fund ($61,000) and the unassigned school board fund balance ($109,000). The county commission must approve taking this money from the fund balance. [See related story on page 1.]

“After June, a full year of the SRO program could cost approximately $350,000,” Fuller stated. That money would have to come from the county commission out of the sheriff department’s budget.

“To be clear, the money would come from our budget for this half of the year, and then the county would have to pay for the ongoing SRO program,” said Chris McDonough, fifth district school board member.

“School safety comes first and foremost, and armed guards at the school may be part of the solution,” he said. “We should table this proposal to have more conversations with the community and the teachers. 

“We need to talk with all the people who will be affected by this program. We need the whole package, including more guidance counselors and social workers in the schools,” said McDonough.

“Are we comfortable with having SROs in all the schools?” school board chairman Kevin Caroland asked. “If so, then how do we pay for it? If we say ‘yes’ to this proposal, it has to be something that is going forward, not stopping in June.”

“If it does not go forward, then we have just spent $170,000 that could have been used elsewhere. We need a resolution from the county commission that they will fund this program 100 percent,” said Caroland.

By law, the county commission cannot raise property taxes until July. 

“We are moving too hastily,” McDonough said. “I am not opposed to this program. We have just not talked with all concerned. Ultimately, this money is going to come from the taxpayers.” 

“If we approve this resolution, and the commissioners accept this and their budget amendment, the county commission has just given a 5-cent tax increase to you with no discussion,” said McDonough. 

The 5-cent property tax increase was the amount suggested by Fuller and county officials to fund the SROs in the future from the county budget.

“If the first step is the SRO program, then the next step is mental health,” said McDonough. “We need to put all of these in place at the same time.”

The board amended the language of the resolution to read “funding the SRO program is step one in a comprehensive package to include mental health and social workers, and funding perpetually.” 

The school board passed this amended resolution by a vote of 8–0.

State Representative David Alexander said “the state was looking at three bills this legislative session dealing with guns.”

“One bill, HB0006, allows a board of education to have a teacher with a firearm and a training component in the school,” said Alexander. “Nothing is concrete, but the state is going to do something. They are not going to allow the status quo to stay the same.” 

“Having more social workers and counselors would come from the school board budget,” said Sharber. 

“The SRO is not a school position. Continued funding for this program is a community issue, not a school board issue.”

In other business, the school board approved the following items: a resolution against school vouchers, a resolution against the creation of an alternate authorizer to approve charter schools, and a resolution against electing, rather than appointing, superintendents of schools. These resolutions will be sent to Representative Alexander. 

New Century Performs Saturday

Acclaimed violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg will lead the New Century Chamber Orchestra in concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, in Guerry Auditorium. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students and are available by calling 598-1770. 

Passion, excitement and innovation are the hallmarks of Salerno-Sonnenberg’s music. With the New Century Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1992 in the San Francisco Bay Area, she looks for fresh, exciting ways to present classical music by combining performances of extraordinary quality with innovative programming. 

New Century is comprised of local musicians and those who travel from across the U.S. and Europe to perform together. Musical decisions are made collaboratively by the 19-member string ensemble, resulting in an enhanced level of commitment on the part of the musicians to concerts of remarkable precision, passion and power.

Sewanee’s MLK Day Observances

Two events will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal holiday on Monday, Jan. 21.

All Saints’ Chapel and the School of Theology’s Committee for Diversity and Reconciliation will host a service at 4:30 p.m. in All Saints’ Chapel. Students, faculty, staff and community members will read the letter written by King while jailed in Birmingham, Ala. 

The University’s first African-American graduate, Nathaniel Owens, C’70, will be the featured speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration at 6 p.m. in the Bishop’s Common Hearth Room. The African-American Alliance and Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, the Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace and the Franklin County NAACP are hosts for the event, which begins with a potluck buffet.

Owens came to Sewanee from Hartselle, Tenn. After graduating with honors in English, he decided to attend law school, declining an opportunity to play in the NFL after the Cincinnati Bengal’s football team drafted him. He and his family live in Alabama, where he practices law. His son, Nathaniel, is a sophomore in the College.

Sewanee Praise, the student gospel choir, will perform at the event. Nathalie Fowler, president of the African American Alliance, will emcee the festivities. The evening culminates in a group sing-along.

On Monday, Jan. 21, all federal, state and local government offices will be closed. Public schools will be closed, as will area banks and post offices. St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School and the University will have classes on Monday.

This year, MLK Day  coincides with the 57th Presidential Inauguration, King’s birthday was on Jan. 15, but the federal holiday is observed on the third Monday in January. 

Civic Association Meets Wednesday

The Sewanee Civic Association will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the EQB House. Yearly dues of $10 are payable at the door.

Social time with wine begins at 6 p.m., and a buffet dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. 

The business meeting begins promptly at 7 p.m., followed by a brief program. The program portion of the evening is free and open to the public. 

Dinner is available for $12 per person and may be paid at the door; the menu is garden salad, pork roast, lemon green beans, sautéed bok choy with broccoli and roasted sweet potatoes; tea, coffee, wine, plus an assortment of cakes and pies for dessert.

The business portion of the meeting will include an update on the Sewanee Classifieds, the Community Chest and nominations for board positions. 

Phil White will present a program on the Dog Park. This is a continuation of the Civic Association’s interest in completing parks in Sewanee.

There is parking behind the EQB House in the lot off of Mitchell Avenue, and guests are encouraged to park there. There are stairs from this lot to the building. Additional parking is available on Georgia Avenue and behind Fulford Hall. 

For people with handicapped placards, there are spaces marked on University Avenue and on Georgia Avenue. In the event that all those handicap spaces are taken, those with handicap placards can park directly behind the handicap spaces on University Avenue. 

The Sewanee Civic Association brings together community members for social and community awareness. Any adult who resides in the area and shares concerns of the community is invited to attend and become a member.

Little League Sign-Ups

Sign-up for Little League in Sewanee will be at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, and 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Sewanee Market.

Parents, please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate and three proofs of residence (utility bill, bank statement, etc.). 

Also, adult volunteers are needed for the season.

For more information, contact Shellie Green at <segreen@sewanee.edu>.

Marilynne Robinson Reading on Thursday

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson will give a reading from her new collection of essays, “When I Was a Child I Read Books,” at 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, in Gailor Auditorium. The public is welcome, and a book signing will follow.

Robinson is on the Sewanee campus to give the Convocation address and receive an honorary degree on Friday, Jan. 18. During her visit, she will also meet with students and faculty members from the College and the School of Theology.

She is a professor of creative writing at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the author of three highly acclaimed novels: “Housekeeping” (1980), “Gilead” (2004) and “Home” (2008). Robinson has served as writer-in-residence and visiting professor at many colleges and universities, including the University of Kent in England and Amherst College. Her second book, “Mother Country: Britain, The Welfare State and Nuclear Pollution,” evolved from an essay that she wrote for Harper’s Review and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her most recent collection of essays, “When I Was a Child I Read Books” was published last March. “Housekeeping” was a finalist for the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, “Gilead” was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer and “Home” received the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction.

Sewanee Community Chest Meets Its Goal

Because of the generosity of this community, the Sewanee Community Chest has surpassed its 2012–13 fund-raising goal. As of Jan. 8, the campaign reached $91,848 in donations and pledges.

“The Sewanee Civic Association is grateful to all who made a commitment to help us first meet and then exceed our goal for this year,” said Theresa Shackelford, association president. “The support for the 25 area organizations is very much appreciated.”

Each year the Community Chest raises funds for organizations that serve the common good. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the Sewanee Community Chest supports youth sports, outreach, community and educational programs in the tri-county area. Requests to the Community Chest this year totaled approximately $118,000. 

“The need to help fund local organizations is apparent,” said Shackelford. “Given the state of the economy at the time, the board approved a more attainable goal to reach.” The Community Chest fund raising campaign began in October and officially ends on Feb. 28. 

“If you have not made your gift to the Community Chest this year, it is not too late. Any money that exceeds the goal will be used to support the park fund and emergency funding requests as they arise,” said Shackelford. Last year, the Community Chest was able to grant an additional $5,000 to help the Sewanee Children’s Center with relocation expenses.

Projected distributions by the Community Chest are: Sewanee Elementary PTO $20,000; Community Action Committee $18,200; Sewanee Senior Citizens $12,000; Sewanee Children’s Center $8,000; Folks at Home $5,000; Sewanee Community Center $5,000; Housing Sewanee $4,000; Fourth of July Celebration $3,000; Sewanee Little League $1,000; Community of St. Mary’s $1,000; Sewanee Angel Park $1,000; Cub Scout Pack 152 $600; Sewanee Chorale $500; Thurmond Library $500; Tigersharks Swim Team $500; Boy Scout Troop 14 $300; Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace $250; Girl Scout Troop 2107 $200; Girl Scout Troop 621 $200; Beyond Sewanee: Blue Monarch $2,500; Franklin County Humane Society $2,000; Mountain Goat Trail Alliance $1,200; Grundy County Food Bank $1,000; Campora Family Resource Center $1,000; Franklin County Adult Activity Center $400. The distributions total $89,350.

Spring Opening Convocation on Jan. 18

Opening Convocation for the Easter semester at the University will be at noon, Friday, Jan. 18, in All Saints’ Chapel. Honorary degrees will be presented and new members will be inducted into the Order of Gownsmen. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson will give the Convocation address and will receive an honorary degree. Stan Brock, the Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby and the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan will also receive honorary degrees during the Convocation. Robinson will also have a reading on Thursday, Jan. 17 [see accompanying story about Robinson].

Stan Brock is the founder and president of Remote Area Medical, Inc. (RAM), a corps of volunteers providing free medical, visual, dental, and veterinary care to uninsured and under-insured individuals in the U.S. and the developing world. An Englishman by birth, Brock spent 15 years with the Wapishana Indians in the Central Amazon Basin, becoming general manager of the world’s largest tropical cattle ranch. He is a bush pilot and former star of the popular television program “Wild Kingdom.” Brock’s experiences living and working in the Amazon basin, witnessing the suffering of those without access to medical services, inspired him to create RAM in 1985. RAM clinics are held in the U.S. and worldwide, and have inspired more than 70,000 volunteers to provide care to more than a half million people. A clinic at Sewanee last May served more than 500 area residents.

The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Ph.D., T’97, was ordained on July 21 as the fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana. Owensby has served as dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral, the seat of the Western Louisiana diocese, since January 2009. He previously served as rector of Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves, Mo.; as rector of St. Stephen’s Church, Huntsville, Ala.; and as assistant rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Fla. He holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Emory University, and a master of divinity degree from the School of Theology at the University of the South. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1997.

 The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, T’81, currently serves as bishop of the Diocese of Alabama. A native of Vicksburg, Miss., Sloan received his bachelor of science degree in sociology from Mississippi State University in 1976 and his master of divinity degree from the School of Theology at the University of the South in 1981. Sloan’s previous service to the Church includes calls to parishes in Mississippi and Alabama as curate, chaplain and rector. He is an active participant in programs that support people with mental and physical disabilities. In the national Church, he is a member of the standing commission for liturgy and music. Sloan and his wife, Tina Brown Sloan, have two children, McKee, C’11, and Mary Nell, a freshman at the University of Montevallo.

Bryan Publishes First Novel

The Rev. Christopher Bryan, author of seven well-reviewed academic texts and the editor of the Sewanee Theological Review, has just released a novel “Siding Star” (published by the Diamond Press), which is available in paperback and Kindle e-book editions. Bryan is the C.K. Benedict Professor of New Testament, emeritus, at the School of Theology in Sewanee.

“Siding Star,”which will appeal to fans of authors as diverse as Dan Brown and Frank Peretti, weaves the Christian symbolism of Bryan’s profession into a complex thriller. The story ties together a British policewoman’s investigation into a secret, power-hungry society and a quiet astronomer’s unexpected discovery of something even more threatening: an exploded star that is hurtling toward Earth. 

The novel received a starred Kirkus review: “Bryan’s heroes aren’t just likable but lovable: intelligent, amusing, hard-working, even kind to animals. In contrast, the novel’s villains are truly spooky and disturbing; readers are always aware of  the urgency of stopping their evil plans. An enjoyable novel of spiritual mystery and adventure—well plotted, intelligent and deeply moving.”

For more information go to <http://christopherbryanonline.com/>.

Korean War Veteran Honored 62 Years After Death

Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann will be laid to rest today, 62 years after his death. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has ordered flags be lowered to half-staff on Saturday, Jan. 12, in honor of the Tracy City man who died while serving in the Korean War.

Schoenmann was born in Palmer and grew up in Tracy City where he attended James Shook School and worked on the Werner Farm with his family. He was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in the U.S. Army where he was at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea on Nov. 28, 1950. The Grundy County native reportedly died as a prisoner of war on Dec. 29, 1950. Schoenmann was 20 years old when he was killed. Family members say Schoenmann’s remains were recovered in 2004, but the identification process was not finalized until this December.

“The Schoenmann family has waited 62 years to give Glenn a proper burial, and we join them in remembering his service and sacrifice,” Haslam said. “As a state we mourn the loss of PFC Schoenmann, but we are grateful for his return to his home and family.”

Schoenmann is survived by his sister Edna Kilgore of Monteagle, brothers Ernest Schoenmann of Creave Coure, Ill., Raymond Schoenmann of Tracy City and Carl Schoenmann of Winchester.

“It just means a lot that he will be buried in the same cemetery with our mother, father and grandparents,” Raymond Schoenmann said. “It’s finally uniting the family back together.”

Visitation will be 5–8 p.m., today, Jan. 11 at Layne Funeral Home in Palmer. Visitation will resume at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 12 at Grundy County High School, 24970 State Route 108, Coalmont. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., at the high school, burial to follow at the Brown’s Chapel Cemetery in Palmer. In case of inclement weather, all services will be held at Layne Funeral Home in Palmer. 

Guitar Concert at St. Luke's

Lucas Finney, an award-winning guitarist, will perform at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, in St. Luke’s Chapel. Works will include several from the classic era of the guitar, as well as recent compositions, including Carlo Domeniconi’s evocative “Koyunbaba” and “Fuoco” from Roland Dyens’s “Libra Sonatine.”

A native of Franklin County, Finney is a doctoral student at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University. His performance interests extend to jazz, folk, rock and blues. He teaches guitar at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School and is a visiting instructor of guitar at the University.

The concert is free, but seating is limited, so arrive early. 

CCJP’s 2013 Award

Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace is seeking nominations for the 2013 award to recognize individuals and organizations whose work furthers the mission of bringing a measure of justice and peace to the Cumberland Plateau area. The deadline for making award nominations is noon, Jan. 18. 

Past award recipients include Susan Binkley and Blue Monarch; the Community Action Committee; Jess Wilson and the Cumberland Farmers’ Market; Carol and Glenn Vanden Bosch and the Grundy County Food Bank; Christine Hopkins for establishing the Franklin County Community Re-entry program; and Joe Porter for nurturing community understanding of diverse faiths.

The award will be presented at the spring banquet on Saturday, Feb. 23. To make a nomination, describe the person or organization (100 words or less). Nominations may be submitted to Leslie Lytle at <sllytle@blomand.net> or P.O. Box 307, Sewanee, TN 37375.