Charles Alvin Wells
Dodge City - Charles Alvin Wells, 87, passed peacefully on December 21, 2024 at Reflection Living, Dodge City. He was born on June 13, 1937 at Dodge City, the son of Howard Charles and Dorothy (Bond) Wells.
Charles grew up in Kansas and Washington. He joined the US Air Force and was stationed at Roswell, New Mexico. On October 29, 1960 he married Darlene Beedy at Tribune. After their marriage they moved to Garden City where he was a custodian for the schools. They later moved to Leoti where he worked for the Wichita County Road Department and for Cargill Feeders until his retirement. In January of 2022, they moved to Dodge City. He enjoyed gardening and raising livestock, His church, Jesus, and family were the most important things in his life.
He was a member of the Leoti Abundant Life Church of Leoti.
Alvin is survived by his wife, Darlene Wells of Dodge City; three daughters, Jannifer Reynolds & Joe of Tribune, Shelia Smith and Paul of Dodge City, and Wendy Gifford and Jay of Dodge City; nine grandchildren, Chasity & Dustin Fritzmeier, Brandy & Scott Clevenger, Tyrell & Katy Reynolds, Amber & Jordan, Aaron & Maria Smith, Anna & Corey Bjerken, Kylie & Danny Finder, Jalen Gifford, and Jace Gifford; and 21 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Wanda Parr & Steve of Garden City, Gene Wells & Gail of Shawnee, Teresa Sowers & Randy of Scott City, and Donella Miller & Terry of Olathe.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brother, Howard Wells, Jr.
A funeral service was held at Cross Connection Church on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Dustin Fritzmeier presiding. Burial followed at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with military honors by the US Air Force honor guard.
Memorials are suggested to Senior Benevolence Fund in care of Cross Connection Church, 3500 N. 14th, Dodge City, KS 67801.
OBITUARIES
Opal M. Bare
Opal M. Bare, 90, of Tribune, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025, at the Greeley County Long Term Care facility. Opal was born on December 26, 1934, in Tribune to Carl and Annie Bare. From an early age, she carried a quiet sense of adventure that would guide her through... [More]
Stanley Raymond “Stan” Slaven
Stanley Raymond “Stan” Slaven, 82, of Oklahoma City, Okla., passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. He was born on March 3, 1943, in Garden City to Winfield and Thelma (Day) Slaven. Stan grew up on his parents’ farm near Coolidge, and graduated from Coolidge... [More]
Robert “Eddie” Goodrum
Robert “Eddie” Goodrum passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the age of 89. He was born the son of Harold and Floe (Southwick) Goodrum on February 17, 1936, in Ventura, California. At 6 months old, he returned with his parents and family to Wellington.... [More]
Paul S. “JR” Woolfolk, Jr.
Paul S. Woolfolk, Jr. (“JR”), age 81, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on Sept. 8, 1944 in Syracuse to Paul and Fannie (Singleton) Woolfolk who lived southwest of Tribune. JR was baptized in Sheridan Lake,... [More]
David “Dave” A Mitchell
David “Dave” A. Mitchell passed away at the age of 85, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community in Lawrence on Thursday, December 11, 2025 surrounded by family. He was born on September 19, 1940, in Tribune. He was the son of William Arthur Mitchell and Edna Sophronia... [More]
Daryl Leroy Sebastian
Daryl Leroy Sebastian was born April 9, 1937, to Leona and Cecil Sebastian in Tribune. He passed away on November 30, 2025, in Lake Elsinore, California. Daryl graduated from Greeley County Schools and attended Fort Hays State for two years. He later farmed with his father,... [More]
Warren M. Kuttler
Warren M. Kuttler, 74, of Tribune, died in Tribune on November 21, 2025. He was born on October 9, 1951, in Boise, Idaho, to Joseph Virgil Kuttler, Jr., and Imogene Ruth (Clark) Kuttler. After many moves during his father’s Air Force tenure, the Kuttler family moved... [More]
Merle LeRoy Shalberg
Merle LeRoy Shalberg was born on January 6, 1936, in Sheridan Lake, Colorado, and passed away on November 10, 2025, at Weisbrod Hospital in Eads, surrounded by his family, following a brief illness. He was 89 years old. Merle attended school in Sheridan Lake, (aka KA Hall)... [More]
More Obituaries
- Rev. William F. “Bill” Kleymann
- Burial services for Stewarts Saturday
- Memorial for Jane Ellen (Dixon) Scarffe
- Jane Ellen (Dixon) Scarffe
- Mary Ann Krebs
- Rodney Alan Paxman
- Memorial services for Mary Ann Krebs
- Amy Dawn Kessler
SPORTS
Lady Jackrabbits lose close one to Wheatland-Grinnell
Photo Caption: Mia Reynolds worked to get to the basket during Friday night’s home game against the Wheatland-Grinnell Thunderhawks. Photo by Jeff Crockett. The Lady Jackrabbits hosted the Wheatland-Grinnell Thunderhawks on Friday, January 2, 2026, in both junior... [More]
Junior High Boys fall to Quinter, St. Francis in first round of NWKL Tournament
The Junior High Jackrabbits traveled to Oberlin for the NWKL League Tournament on Monday December 15, (A team), and to Colby on Friday, December 19, (B Team). Both teams were eliminated in the first round. The B team faced off against Saint Francis with only five players... [More]
Jackrabbits win close one over Thunderhawks
Photo Caption: Braxon Mangan scored 17 points during Friday night’s game against Wheatland-Grinnell. At the Quinter game, right before Christmas, he tied Kevin Young’s record for most consecutive free-throws. Photo by Jeff Crockett. The Jackrabbits hosted... [More]
Jackrabbit wrestlers continue to improve
The wrestling team continued to make steady progress through the Christmas break, focusing on growth and learning as the season approaches its midpoint. Gracelyn Graham earned her first career high school win at the Goodland Girls Holiday Classic, a milestone that highlighted... [More]
Stewarts earn All-State Volleyball Honors
Jadence and Jeryn Stewart both received 2025 All-State Honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association for Class 1A Division 1. Jadence, a senior, and Jeryn, a sophomore, were both named to the first team. Others receiving first team honors were Arika Feldman, Little... [More]
Junior High Lady Jackrabbits claim first, runner-up at NWKL Tournament
Photo Caption: The Junior High girls had strong finishes at the NWKL Tournament last week. The A Team finished in first place. The B team finished as the runner-up. In the front row, from left to right, are Lexi Clevenger, Yaresli Labra, Baileigh Schmidt, Kendrix Mangan,... [More]
Lady Jackrabbits defeat Tri-Plains/Brewster, lose to Quinter
Photo Caption: Addy Kennedy brought the ball up the court during Tuesday night’s home game against Tri-Plains/Brewster. The Lady Jackrabbits hosted the Tri-Plains/Brewster Titans on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Though the Lady Jackrabbits had the game easily... [More]
Jackrabbits claim wins over Tri-Plains/Brewster, Quinter
Photo Caption: Gael Yanez scored 10 points during the game against Tri-Plains/Brewster. The Jackrabbits hosted the Tri-Plains/Brewster Titans on Tuesday, December 16. Going into the game, Head Coach Josh Gooch knew that all his boys, including his JV squad,... [More]
More Sports
- Wrestlers begin season, co-oping with Wichita County Indians
- Jackrabbits go 2-1 at the Border Wars in Syracuse
- Lady Jackrabbits go 1-2 at Border Wars Tournament
- JH Jackrabbits defeat St. Francis in overtime
- Junior High Lady Jackrabbits easily defeat St. Francis Indians
- Jackrabbits sweep Elkhart, Stanton County to begin season
- JH Lady Jackrabbits sweep Hornets in C, B, and A play
- Junior High Jackrabbits fall to Dighton Hornets
NEWS
Year In Review 2025 January-March
January Judge Wade Dixon, left, swore in elected officials prior to Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Those being sworn in were (left to right) Sheriff Jessica McDaniel, Register of Deeds Lisa Robertson, County Clerk Jerri Young, and Supervisors Stan Shafer, Monty... [More]
Greeley County awarded $24,468 SEED grant
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Office of Rural Prosperity at the Department of Commerce has awarded $337,833 in Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grants, supporting 15 quality-of-life projects across... [More]
Power the Pantry raises $130,203 in donations for food banks
Photo Caption: Kevin White, Wheatland Trustee, and Allie Conine, Director of Member Services and Corporate Communications for Wheatland Electric, presented a check for $8,515 to Kathleen Dowling and Dale Wetzel of the Greeley County Food Pantry. Courtesy photo. SCOTT... [More]
Sen. Moran Applauds $222 Million for Kansas Rural Hospitals
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today applauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement that Kansas will receive $222 million for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. This allotment will be awarded for... [More]
Weather remains mild through holidays
For eleven of the last 14 days leading up to the end of 2025, highs were 50 and above, with three days topping out at 80 or above. The week’s high of 82 degrees was recorded for Christmas Day, December 25. The lowest low during the two-week stretch was recorded... [More]
Rural transportation needs survey
The most recent Greeley and Wallace County Community Health Needs Assessment revealed that transportation is a primary concern for area residents. A student at Wichita Collegiate High School has designed a survey and project to better understand the healthcare related transportation... [More]
Shop Greeley County for Christmas awards $1,500 to area residents through holiday season
The final drawing in the Shop Greeley County for Christmas program was held on Christmas eve. Winners in week one were Kayla Hamann, Denise Phillips, and Beverly Trahern. Winners from week two were Tammi Hazel, Linda Wendelburg, and Terri Vestal. The third week’s... [More]
Greeley County Schools launches Jackrabbit Vision Capital Campaign
Photo Caption: The cheerleaders led a large crowd in the Greeley County Schools gym during the Friday, December 5, 2025, basketball game against the Stanton County Trojans. Greeley County Schools invites businesses and individuals to take part in the Jackrabbit... [More]
More News
- No paper next week
- Gospel music concert on Saturday, January 3
- Western Kansas Community Foundation Awards over $201,000 in fall grants
- Wheatland Electric hosts holiday open house
- Shop Greeley County for Christmas
- Board of Supervisors meeting notes
- Unseasonably warm temperatures lead up to Christmas
- Elementary students present winter concert
OPINIONS
Letter to the Editor: Trump promises handouts to farmers. Politicians promise development benefits. We pay for it all.
As has been widely speculated, Monday brought news that the Trump administration will provide several billion dollars in bailouts to farmers, with an emphasis on corn and soybean growers. Only a small portion may go to Kansas wheat farmers. Predictably, political dances followed... [More]
Letter to the Editor
After watching about three hours of the Supreme Court debate over tariffs, I learned something significant. As of Wednesday, November 5, tariffs amount to an 18% tax on all of us. On top of all the other taxes, that 18% shocked me. That number was shared in the Supreme Court... [More]
Right to repair
Right to Repair is one of the hottest topics not only in agriculture, but also in the US. In the bustling industrial economy, money-hungry companies are looking for any way to save a penny or pass on costs onto the consumer. This then accumulates into the Right... [More]
Letter to the Editor
Imagine yourself living on a homestead, a place you’ve called home for 71 years. Unknowingly, the groundwater beneath your farm, slowly disappearing until there’s none! Those of us who go to the sink for a glass of water, fill our washing machines to get a clean... [More]
Letter to the Editor
Dear Parents and Guardians, This year, we are excited to announce that our school, grades 6-12, will be holding student-led conferences along with traditional parent-teacher conferences. In a student-led conference, your child takes an active role in leading the conversation.... [More]
Letter to the editor: Political uncertainty shakes Kansas farmland values, and prosperity hangs in the balance
by Ben Palen First published in the Kansas Reflector In 1979, I bought my first parcel of farmland. It was near Tribune, and I was a proud new landowner. As I recall, the purchase price was $350 per acre. Today, that land is probably worth somewhere in the $2,000-per-acre... [More]
From the Editor’s desk: Reflecting on the Symphony in the Flint Hills
Saturday, June 14, was the grand finale of the Symphony of the Flint Hills, which celebrated a 20-year run of welcoming guests onto the open prairie to enjoy a performance by the Kansas City Symphony. This year’s theme was “Prairie Sunset” and as the... [More]
Letter to the Editor: With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers
By Ben Palen Also published in the Kansas Reflector Back in November, I wrote a column for Kansas Reflector that discussed the likely adverse effects of President Trump’s proposed tariffs on U.S. farmers. The piece noted that 398 million acres of cropland has been... [More]
More Opinions
- Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump is not our king
- Open letter to Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall
- Letter to the Editor - School bond issue
- Insight: Your vote counts
- Volunteers are the heart of our community
- A tribute to Tribune and her friendly residents
- Letter to the community from Superintendent Niehues
- Letter to the Editor
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