Raymond Dean Kern

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Raymond Dean Kern, better known as Rayme, was born August 26, 1962, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado to Robert and Susan Kern. Rayme attended Cheyenne Wells schools where he forged many lifelong friendships and a love for sports. In high school, he received many awards for football, basketball, and track. There was not a sport or activity that Rayme did not excel at.

Soon after graduating from Cheyenne Wells High School, Rayme married the love of his life, Delta Walter. The two of them moved to Goodland where Rayme attended college to become a plumber. Once he completed his schooling, they moved to Tribune, where he had his first apprenticeship as a plumber.

After a couple of years, Rayme and Delta made the decision to move back to Cheyenne Wells and start their family. Together, they raised three boys: Jerrid Dean, Tanner Ray, and Augustus Lee.

Much of Rayme’s younger days were spent hauling trash with his dad and brothers Bobby and John for the family business C&L Sanitation. They would wake up, get their work done, then spend the rest of the day watching old westerns in the shop. He was sure to carry on that tradition having his own boys start working the trash route as soon as they were old enough to see over the steering wheel. And of course, the tradition of watching old westerns in the shop for hours on end.

While his boys were growing up, Rayme continued with his love for all activities. He was a part of just about every local league there was, including the Pool League, Dart League, horseshoes, and his all-time favorite, fast pitch softball. He was the best third baseman there was, playing so far up it made everyone nervous, but not much ever got past him. He made sure to raise his boys to be great athletes and was even playing softball with them well into his 50s. It is something they will remember forever.

Rayme had a love for family camping trips to Eads Lakes where they went fishing and the boys would occasionally talk him into tubing and skiing. They remember their dad and Greg (TK) Krentz waking up really early for fishing tournaments. They would get a game plan for the day, go out on the water, and spend the entire day trying to reel in the winning fish. It seems the only thing they could catch was a sunburn and a buzz. They’d come back to camp only to realize that the boys had better luck with a hook and worm off the shore!  

Rayme was also known for his love of the rodeo and cattle ranching. Some of his greatest memories were during cattle pinning with Donnie Feyh and Gale Hoover. They were a great team for several years and if they didn’t win the buckles, they were in the money. Raising cattle became a great passion for Rayme. It was something he looked forward to everyday. He especially looked forward to branding day when the whole family came to town to work cows. Nothing made him happier than taking the grand kids up north to feed and cake cows. And you bet he was still able to show them how to cowboy and be tough.  One of the best days of his life is when he became a grandpa.  It was Father’s Day weekend when Kenli was born. He looked at Jerrid, gave him a hug and said, “that’s the best damn Father’s Day gift there ever was.” Not long after, Alyx was welcomed to the family followed by Suzanna, Reese, Briana, and finally Wyatt. As the family grew, so did the camping trips and memories. One time, he and Delta took Kenli out on the pontoon boat and Rayme decided he would wear shorts. Kenli was very concerned and finally asked him what was wrong with his legs and why they were so white? He loved all of his grandkids so much and felt nothing but joy when they were around. They even talked him into swimming in the lake with them multiple times.

Being a part of this community was extremely important to Rayme. Over the years, he had many titles. He was an EMT, volunteer fireman, Deputy Coroner, and County Coroner. 

Rayme was a loving husband, son, father, and grandfather. He left this world after a hard-fought battle against injuries of a motor vehicle accident on June 19, 2024. He was still the toughest man many of us will ever know.

The funeral mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Friday, July 5, 2024 at the Sacred Heart Church in Cheyenne Wells.  Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery.  

OBITUARIES

Celebration of Life for Shane Smith Saturday

A Celebration of Life service for Shane Smith will be held this Saturday, June 7, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Tribune.  Shane was born on March 27, 1977 in Tribune and passed away on March 1, 2025 in Tribune.  In lieu of flowers, donations... [More]

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Betty Jean Niswonger

Betty Jean Niswonger, age 54, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Destiny Support Home in Garden City.  She was born on August 9, 1970, to Keith Eugene and Barbara Ann Zehm Niswonger in Leoti. Betty Jean attended Beamgard Learning Center in Atwood from elementary... [More]

Celebration of Life for Rosalie Abney

The family of Rosalie Abney invites community members to join them in celebrating the life of Rosalie Ann Abney, (nee Nemechek). February 19,1940 – October 16, 2024. The family of Rosalie Abney will be gathering to celebrate her life, and they’d be honored if you’d... [More]

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Jon Kelly Davidson

Jon Kelly Davidson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the tranquil Kansas City Hospice House, at the age of 73. Jon was not a name familiar to those who knew him.  They would’ve known him as Kelly.... [More]

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James Dale Fisher, Jr.

James Dale Fisher, Jr., age 78, passed away at his home in Scott City on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.  He was born on September 7, 1946, in Nashville, Kansas to James Dale and Mary Ann Vierthaler Fisher.  After graduating from High School, James earned a B.A. in History... [More]

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Dayna Ann Bechard

Dayna Ann Bechard passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2025, in Tribune, at Greeley County Health Services. She was born in Salina, Kansas on November 7, 1978. Graduating from Tescott High School in 1997, she went on to attend Fort Hays State University. She graduated with... [More]

Committal Service for Harold Grubb

The time has come for the committal service for Harold Grubb’s ashes. We’ll meet at the Greeley County Cemetery at 11:00 am M.T. on Friday, April 18.  There will be a reception/lunch following the service at the Grubb home at 820 Martin Avenue to share stories... [More]

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Walter James Waldren

Walter James Waldren, age 54, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Wichita County, Kansas. He was born on October 28, 1970, in Leoti, Kansas, the son of Walter Donald and Carolyn Lea Lemmer Waldren.  He was a farmer. James married Mary Jane Kelley on April 22, 1994,... [More]

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SPORTS

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Shafer plays in 40th Annual 8-Man All-Star Game

Lincoln Shafer played wide receiver for the west team in the 8-Man Division II All-Star Game, held Saturday, June 7, in Beloit.  Shafer is a 2025 graduate of Greeley County High School and plans to play college basketball and pursue a business law degree.  His parents... [More]

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Brandl secures two medals at Kansas State Track Meet; Grubb, Mora, and Shafer also compete

Photo caption: Jailyn Brandl competed in the 3,200-meter run and the 1,600-meter run at the State Tournament in Wichita, bringing home a fourth-place medal in the 3,200-meter run and a sixth-place medal in the 1,600-meter run. See additional track coverage on page 6.  Jailyn... [More]

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Shafer places 12th at state; team finishes 7th in 1A State Championship

Photo caption: Lincoln Shafer placed 12th at the 1A State Golf Tournament in Dodge City. Photo by Melissa Zerr. The Greeley County High School golf team traveled to Dodge City for the 1A State Championship held at Mariah Hills on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. Our... [More]

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Greeley County Trap Team leads conference in both fall and spring

Photo Caption: Three of the teams’ four seniors Zoey Shivers, Logan Harris, and Brodey Grubb posed for a photo at trap shooting practice. Shivers finished tied for second in conference with teammate Mia Reynolds on the female side. Harris finished in sixth place in conference... [More]

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Shafer to play in Division II West 8-man All Star game in Beloit

Beloit will host the 40th Annual 8 Man All Star Games, on Saturday, June 7.  The Division II West All Star Game will be played at 10:00 a.m. Lincoln Shafer has been selected for the Division II All Star Game. He is a 2025 graduate of Greeley County High School and plans... [More]

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Jackrabbits claim top spot at Regionals with a 338; Mangan, Shafer, and Higgins-Vestal finish in top 10

Photo Caption: From left to right, Braxon Mangan placed second, Lincoln Shafer placed fourth, and Aaron Higgins-Vestal placed ninth at Regionals. Photo by Brecken Mangan.  The Greeley County High School golf team traveled to St. Francis for their regional tournament this... [More]

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Brandl, Grubb, Mora, and Shafer qualify for State Track

Congratulations to the state-bound Jackrabbit atheletes that will compete at the state meet in Wichita this Friday and Saturday.  Jailyn Brandl, who qualified in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs is slated to run Friday morning at 6:45 a.m. MT and Saturday afternoon... [More]

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Golf team takes first at Regionals, headed to state tourney in Dodge City

Photo caption: Senior Elias Sherer shot an 88 and finished in ninth place at Friday’s NWKL tournament in Sharon Springs. Photo by Brecken Mangan.  Editor’s note: After claiming first place at the Regional Meet in St. Francis Monday, May 19, the Jackrabbits... [More]

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NEWS

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The Instrument Flight Rules airport-obstructing tower has been toppled

After years of work to secure funding to remove the old tower northeast of town, personnel from Pioneer Communications and a destruction team toppled the tower shortly after 9 a.m. Monday morning, June 9. The tower had long prevented an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach... [More]

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Summer Kickoff entertains in Greeley County

Photo Caption: BreAnne Stone from Hastings, Neb. performed original pieces for the attendees at Saturday night’s Praire Palooza.  rn Last weekend’s Summer Kick-Off Event welcomed shoppers, livestock participants, and music-enthusiasts to Greeley County for... [More]

Greeley County Health Services brings Pain Management services in-house

As of July 1, 2025, Greeley County Health Services will be transitioning from a partnership with Holistic Pain Management to continue the same pain service in-house with a new partner, Sadie Seirer, PA.  GCHS believes this transition of the program will allow for expanded... [More]

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy: Eight week course aims to keep Kansans moving

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension  MANHATTAN, Kan. – Many everyday tasks – sitting down, standing up, carrying a box, reaching for foods on a high shelf, even scratching your back – become just a little more difficult as we age.  That... [More]

How to Train Your Dragon at Star Theater

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, Hiccup defies centuries of tradition where he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their... [More]

Additional moisture falls, cool temps linger

At the Experiment Station, another 1.20 was recorded last week, bringing the year-to-date total to 7.38 inches. The week’s high of 90 was recorded for Monday, June 2, with highs ranging in the 50s, 60s, and 70s with only one day in the 80s throughout the remainder of... [More]

Western Kansas Farmer Prioritizes Conservation, Halts Irrigation to Preserve Water Resources

Submitted by Playa Lakes Joint Ventures In the high plains of western Kansas, where water is a precious and dwindling resource, Joe Zellner Jr. has made a bold and deliberate decision: he shut off all irrigation wells on his deeded land.  Zellner, a Wichita County farmer,... [More]

Unapproved minutes of the regular meeting of USD #200 Board of Education

May 12, 2025 at 6 p.m. Board members present: Scott Clevenger, Sheryl Crotinger, Shea Stewart, Shanon Schneider, Aaron Myers, Kenton Mangan, and Jessica Alexander.  Superintendent John Niehues, JH/HS Principal Dale Wolgram, and Clerk Katie Zerr were present.   ... [More]

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OPINIONS

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]

Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump is not our king

Donald Trump is not our king. He was elected with less than 50 percent of the popular vote and his margin of victory was 1.5 percent. There is no mandate in those numbers.  Our elected members of Congress have a sworn duty to support and defend the Constitution and the... [More]

Open letter to Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall

On March 1 at Oakley in western Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall held a town hall meeting for area constitutents wanting to know more about activities in Washington DC that have impacts on them. The following written questions were submitted by Louise Ehmke. Unfortunately they were... [More]

Letter to the Editor - School bond issue

Sometimes I wonder what drives our government to do things in our name but don’t make sense.  With regard to our School Bond election and the Kansas Attorney General’s ruling, how can it be that a law is enacted that has such serious flaws in it.  SB 221... [More]

Insight: Your vote counts

In about two weeks or so, it will be Election Day. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I cannot wait for it to be over. I will not say another word about the campaigns because my mother told me, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at... [More]

Volunteers are the heart of our community

As we celebrate National 4-H Week this week, 4-H Members across the country are celebrating this wonderful youth organization with Friends, Family, and the Communities that support this youth development program.  In addition to celebrating the hard-work and dedication of... [More]

A tribute to Tribune and her friendly residents

In 2023, we visited our good friends Julie and Bill Lawrence of Tribune, Kansas.   We fell in love with Tribune!  During one of our subsequent visits, we found and purchased a great house and will move in, in 2026. Everyone, and I mean everyone, we’ve come... [More]

Letter to the community from Superintendent Niehues

Dear families and community members, I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and engagement with our school community. Over the past few weeks, we have become aware of an issue regarding our school bond vote. As... [More]

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