Relay for Life cancelled again but ACS fundraising efforts continue

March 26, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

For 22 years, Relay for Life was one of the largest fundraising events in DeKalb County in support of the American Cancer Society but three years ago it was suspended due to the pandemic.

Although the hope is to one day bring it back, Relay for Life, normally held on the Friday evening before Mother’s Day in May, will again not be held this year but that doesn’t mean the fundraising has to stop.

“Cancer doesn’t stop just because the pandemic hit,” said Ivadell Randolph, local ACS Volunteer and Relay organizer. “Like every other organization, the American Cancer Society has been hit very hard, but we can still do some fundraising. If there are teams that want to do some onsite fundraising, we welcome that. That’s what happened last year. We raised over $7,200 altogether (including through Love Lights A Tree) and though it’s a low amount compared to what we have done in the past, every dollar helps and these may be the few dollars some researcher needs to find a cure. I am very appreciative of all those who did give last year for this worthy cause,” said Randolph.

In the early years, Relay for Life raised more than $100,000 annually through fun-filled activities, contributions, and sponsorships by churches, teams, businesses, individuals, and civic organizations before and during the event, which except for one year, was held at Green Brook Park. In 2017, Relay was moved indoors at the county complex due to rain. In more recent years, the goal has been to raise at least $50,000 with each event.

“The DeKalb County community has been dedicated and supportive of Relay for Life over many years. Without the help of our sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to have the same impact that we have had. Because of the many donations, we have been able to support breakthrough cancer research and we have been able to save more lives. We’ve also been able to support cancer patient services like the Hope Lodges across the country, including Memphis, Nashville, and Atlanta that house out-of-town patients and their caregivers for free,” said Randolph.

“Due to the continued economic effects of the pandemic, your American Cancer Society is facing a significant funding shortage that is threatening our ability to invest in vital cancer research. Our most important mission is to continue to serve patients and attack cancer from every angle through research, education, advocacy, and patient services,” Randolph continued.

“We know that the pandemic has had many negative effects on businesses. If you are not able to give this year, please know how much we appreciate your support in the past and that we are praying for the success of your business as we hopefully come out of this difficult time. If you can give this year, please know how truly appreciative we are. We are better together,” added Randolph.

A special thanks goes to 2021 teams and sponsors who donated including the DeKalb County Committee, Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church, Salem Baptist Church, DeKalb County Retired Teachers, First Baptist Church, B&G Supply, DeKalb County FCE Club, American Legion, Snow Hill Baptist Church, New West Point Free Will Baptist Church, Caldwell’s Drug Store, and Wilson Bank & Trust.

For more information contact Ivadell Randolph at 615-597-5296 or address contributions to Ivadell Randolph, 787 Keltonburg Road, Smithville, TN 37166.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event dedicated to saving lives from cancer. For over 35 years, communities across the world have come together to honor and remember loved ones and take action for lifesaving change. Funds raised through Relay For Life directly support breakthrough research, 24/7 support for cancer patients, access to lifesaving screenings, and much more.

March 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Another outstanding DCHS Lady Tiger soccer athlete is moving on to the collegiate level after she graduates from high school.

Rainey Tiner, a senior, signed a letter of intent Friday afternoon to play for Southwest Tennessee Community College at Memphis.

Tiner’s parents, Doyne and Margie Glass helped her celebrate along with DCHS Soccer Coach Dylan Kleparek (Coach K), her fellow teammates, DeKalb Middle School Coaches Justin Nokes and Cameron Lester along with Travel Ball Coach Davis Draper of the All-In Futbol Club TN of Cookeville.

“My decision on where I would go to college came down to Southwest and another school, but I chose Southwest after I went to ID camp there. I just fit really well with the team and I got along with the coach. He showed me around Memphis. I just felt more comfortable with them,” said Tiner.

In addition to furthering her soccer career, Tiner plans to study criminal justice at Southwest and then go on to the police academy to become a law enforcement officer.

Since she was a young child, Tiner has had a passion for soccer and has worked to hone her skills over the years.

“I have played soccer since I was in Middle School. Coach K was my coach even before I got to high school. I played in the recreation league for him, and Coach Davis Draper has been my travel ball coach. I like the team (DCHS Lady Tigers). We all grew up together. I played in the rec league with them and travel ball with some of them,” said Tiner.

“A highlight of my high school soccer career was when I scored a winning goal in a game against Livingston Academy, a school we hadn’t beaten in a lot of years,” added Tiner.

As for her high school studies, “I like geometry and I like the coding class I have right now where we make(computer) games,” said Tiner.

“Rainey is a fantastic athlete. A soccer player who has put in the time and work,” said Coach K. “She has played since she was little. Rainey played rec league ball for me as a young girl and worked her way up, playing travel soccer. She has earned her way. Rainey is the kind of player you can put anywhere on the field, and she can play. She played defense for us this past season but she has played a lot of other places on the field too. I could take her out of defense and put her up front and she can score goals. To have that kind of player with versatility and leadership is special. She is the kind of leader that is vocal on the field and can direct traffic and keep people going where they need to go. Rainey is another great senior going on to play at the next level,” said Coach K.

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a public community college in Memphis. The college resulted from the 2000 merger between two institutions, the former Shelby State Community College and the former State Technical Institute at Memphis (“STIM”). Southwest is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open-access college and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Southwest is also a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association.

March 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The multi-Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning Gospel group The Isaacs will appear in concert at the Smithville Church of God on Sunday, March 27 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

In the southern gospel music realm, The Isaacs, a family band based in Hendersonville, have been performing for 51 years. Mom, Lily, was born in Germany to parents who were holocaust survivors. Her three children make up the rest of the band. Ben Isaacs plays the upright bass, Sonya Isaacs Yeary plays the mandolin and Becky Isaacs Bowman plays guitar. All four are vocalists in the group.

The group has won 9 Dove Awards and their latest 3 albums have received Grammy nominations. They have been frequent guests on RFD network’s ‘Larry’s Country Diner’, and also appeared on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Tours for over 20 years. In 2020 the Isaacs were inducted into the GMA (Gospel Music Hall of Fame) and after performing as guests for 25 years, the Isaacs were officially inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on September 14, 2021.

In an interview with WJLE this week, Lily said she and her family are thankful with all the opportunities they have had to entertain and minister to so many people over the years and credits award winning gospel singer/songwriter Bill Gaither for part of their success.

“The Gaither tour was definitely a blessing. Bill Gaither believed in us and we traveled with him for 15 years and did a lot of his videos and that was certainly an opportunity to get our faces out there worldwide because of his popularity. He pretty much took us under his wing and gave us that push and since then with all the opportunities we have had all I can say is we are so humbled that people have received us so well. Our main mission is for people to come to our concerts to hear something that will make a better day for them,” said Lily.

Becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry was also a dream come true for the Isaacs. “We have been going to the Opry for 25 years as guests and they have been so kind to our family and when they asked us to become a member it was a total surprise, and we were so emotional. We couldn’t believe it. The Opry just feels like family to us. We will be on the Opry Friday and Saturday night, March 25 & 26 before we come to Smithville,” Lily said.

Lily was born Lillian Fishman, in 1947, two years after World War II ended. Her parents – both Holocaust survivors from Poland – had met at a refugee camp in Germany. Her family later immigrated to the United States and became American citizens. Lily began her musical career as a folksinger in New York and then met her husband, Kentucky native Joe Isaacs. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the couple were married and started a band that they initially named the Calvary Mountain Boys. Eventually, they landed on the name, The Isaacs. Although Lily and Joe divorced after 28 years of marriage, she continued to perform with her daughters Sonya and Becky and son Ben for The Isaacs.

The Isaacs latest projects include ‘The American Face’ and ”Songs for the Times”.

“One of our newest projects is called “The American Face”. It was actually recorded in 2019 but once the pandemic started we weren’t traveling so we didn’t want to release that album at that time because we had a lot of money and time invested in it. We wanted to wait until we started traveling again. During the pandemic we recorded an album called “Songs for the Times” which is actually our most current. We recently won a Dove award for that album and have been nominated for a Grammy so we will be going to the Grammy Awards next week,” said Lily.

The Isaacs and its members have been invited to perform on many gospel, bluegrass and country artist albums and stages including: Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Alabama, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Alison Krauss, Natalie Grant, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, and many others.

The family also has a non-profit organization called The Isaacs Foundation that blesses the less fortunate in America. They also have a branch called the Fishman Isaacs Israel Initiative that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to bless Israel, specifically Holocaust Survivors, Israeli “Lone” Soldiers and orphans.

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