Sayre Salvation Army gets new captain

The Sayre Salvation Army will receive a new captain on Monday, a month after the previous captains were relieved of their duties.

Captain Debra Stedman will start as leader of the Sayre post on Monday, confirmed Major Donald Hostetler, division commander of the Empire State Division of the Salvation Army. Stedman's first act as captain will be to meet with the organization's advisory board on Monday evening, Hostetler said.

Captains Juan Carlos and Liliam Cruz, who had served as captains of the Sayre Salvation Army since July 2011, were relieved of their duties last month. Since that time, Major Lucy Jordan has served as interim leader of the Sayre post.

Stedman was captain of the Gloversville, N.Y. Salvation Army, near Albany, for the past six years, Hostetler said. An upstate New York native, Stedman completed officer training school in Rome, N.Y. The Sayre post will be Stedman's first appointment in Pennsylvania, Hostetler said.

Hostetler could not comment on the present standing of Captains Cruz with the organization, saying only that it was an ongoing personnel matter. In a previous interview with this newspaper, Hostetler said that in a typical relief of duties situation, the Cruzes would remain captains until senior officials determine their futures with the Salvation Army.

Amanda Renko can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or email: arenko@thedailyreview.com.