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, in Scott City, Kansas.
To this union, Ashley Nicohl was born on July 12, 1995.
James graduated from Weskan High School in the spring of 1989. He then attended Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kansas for welding and graduated in the spring of 1991.
He liked working with his dad, Donald. He was a master craftsman like his father, making furniture and cutting different designs with a plasma cutter. He would help anyone and he didn’t mind telling you what he thought. James loved his old pickup and his everyday companion, his dog, Sloan. James also loved playing with his grandkids, Landen & Jaxton; he was Papa to them.
Survivors include his daughter Ashley Nicohl Waldren & Jordan Nemechek of Tribune; his mother Carolyn Lea Waldren of Leoti;, three sisters Karolyn & Elias Moreno of Dallas, Texas; Katrina & Eric Hoffman of Horace; and Karla & Rick Dilling of California, Kentucky; two grandsons - Landen & Jaxton Nemechek of Tribune; and many friends, relatives, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father Walter Donald Waldren.
Graveside Memorial Services were held at 11:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Greeley County Cemetery in Tribune with Steve Payne presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the James Waldren Memorial Fund in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 161, Leoti, Kansas 67861.
OBITUARIES
Thelma I. Carlson
Thelma Isabel Carlson of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the age of 97. Thelma arrived at the Ferne and Oscar Carlson home in Tribune on December 16, 1928. She joined two-year-old Selma and one-year-old Velma. In the following two years both John... [More]
Arla Peter
Arla Peter, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. She was born on September 17, 1954, in Tribune to Lawrence and Marjorie Woelk Peter. She was a lifelong member of the Tribune community. Surviving family includes her brother... [More]
Judson P. Price, Sr.
Judson P. Price, Sr., age 96, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Sunrise of Sandy Senior Living Center in Sandy, Utah. He was born on April 21, 1930, in Sabetha, the son of Lyle Phillips and Ruth Mildred Hall Price. He was the past owner and operator of... [More]
Becky Lynn Keller
Becky Keller, 74, of Olathe, passed peacefully into God’s arms on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Becky was born on July 14, 1951, to her loving and devoted parents, Israel “Harry” and Thelma Trigg in Ottawa. Her childhood was spent in rural southwestern Kansas, where... [More]
Celebration of Life for Derek Justin Smith
A Celebration of Life for Derek Justin Smith will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Tribune. Memorials can be given to the Derek Smith Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 433, Tribune, KS 67879.
Shawn Harney
Shawn Harney, age 61, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026, surrounded by the love of his friends and family. Born on January 14, 1965, in Norfolk, Shawn grew up with a strong work ethic, a love for family, and a passion for the simple things in life. He graduated from Clarkson... [More]
Don E. Moore
Don Eugene Moore was born on March 3, 1962, in Tribune. He was the son of Emmit C. Moore and RoseElla (Kuder) Moore-Graham. He attended Greeley County High School and graduated in 1980. In 1982, he married Cindy Tillis and they had two children Amanda (Bobby) Ward of... [More]
John Warren “Skip” Conard, Jr.
John Warren “Skip” Conard, Jr., born September 1, 1943, in Syracuse, passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 82, surrounded by his loving family. He grew up in Coolidge with his brother, Edward Dale Conard, and his sister, Barbara (Conard) Latty; his sister... [More]
More Obituaries
- Rose Edna Fuller
- Max Gwaine Steele
- Pauline (Finkenbinder) Fecht
- Ivan Earl Parks
- Carl Levi Evans
- David Northrup
- Lloyd E. Surprise
- Celebration of Life for Daryl Miller
SPORTS
Lady Jackrabbits compete in Colby league
Photo caption: In the front row, from left to right, are Scarlett Shafer, Jeryn Stewart, Kamri Myers, and Charlize Shafer. In the back row, from left to right, are Tylee Cavenee, Briana Martinez, Brooklyn Clevenger, and Ellie Schneider. Not pictured are Addy Kennedy, Yosselin... [More]
Cheerleaders host bake sale
High School Cheerleaders Lorilai Zerr, Britney Helpingstine, and Annaleigh Long hosted a bake sale Saturday morning in front of Gooch’s Foods. Photo by Cheerleading Coach Bailey Talbott.
Summer T-Ball adventures
Photo caption: Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Landen Harris, Larry Walkingshaw, Wilder Moritz, Jaxxon Langdon, Kayce Springsteel, Jameson Langdon, Callum Elliott, and Jacob Hoeme. In the middle row, from left to right, are Stella Peter, Faith Myers, Delanie... [More]
Braxon Mangan named to First Team All-State
Tribune golfer Braxon Mangan was named to First Team All-State Honors by the Kansas Golf Coach’s Association. According to Keith Slattery, Head Coach of the Greeley County High School team, Braxon had a scoring average of 77.8 this season, the lowest in at least... [More]
Trap Team shoots at state competition in Sedgwick over the weekend
Photo caption: Trap Team members taking part in last weekend’s state Trap Shooting tournament in Wichita were front row, from left to right, Mia Reynolds, Klayton Davignon, Tristen Evans, and Jackson Phillips. In the middle row, from left to right, are Cyril Kleymann, Scotty... [More]
Girls' Softball
Ryleigh Gooch pitches the ball during last Monday night’s home softball game. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger.
High School and Junior High Football Camp held last week
Among the high school boys at last week’s football camp were, left to right, Jeff Heine, Drayke DaSilva, Hayden Myers, Rowdy Grubb, and Luke Grubb. Coach Austin Coffman led Tuesday night’s practice with help from John Niehues.
Summer Basketball
High School girls taking part in last weekend’s basketball tournament in Greensburg were front row, left to right, Addy Kennedy, Scarlett Shafer, Shaydan Howell, Kamri Myers, and Charlize Shafer. In the back row are Coach Kyle Shafer, Mia Reynolds, Tylee Cavenee, Briana... [More]
More Sports
- Tennis Camp held
- Greeley County Recreation youth soccer teams play in Leoti league
- GCHS plays at 1A State Golf Meet at Turkey Creek in McPherson
- Seven Jackrabbits compete at all classes KSHSAA State Track Meet
- Jackrabbits host regional meet; seven qualify for state meet in Wichita
- Jackrabbits place third at sub-state, secure spot at state meet
- Kansas State High School Clay Target League State Tournaments quickly approaching
- Jackrabbit golfers score wins at home, named Northwest Kansas League champions
NEWS
July Fourth Celebration
A wide-array of events have been planned to celebrate the Fourth of July and the United States of America’s 250th anniversary this Saturday and Sunday. Get out and enjoy time with your friends and neighbors in the community. Saturday, July 4 At 9 a.m.,... [More]
Country Fresh Market Wednesday
Photo caption: Janette Crotinger, center right, visits with Alan Waggoner at last week’s Country Fresh Market while Julie Claeys finishes a purchase with Carol Waggoner. The Country Fresh Market is scheduled for this Wednesday, July 1. The market will take... [More]
Greeley County Health Services to host CNA Class locally starting in July
GCHS is planning to host a Certified Nurse Aide course in conjunction with WeCareOnline beginning Tuesday, July 21. This will be a local, hybrid CNA class providing online self-paced coursework and local clinical education time. The class begins Tuesday, July 21, and... [More]
Grace Whitham graduates
Grace Whitham graduated from Texas Tech University magna cum laude in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with minors in chemistry and general business. Whitham, the daughter of Stewart and Jeremi Whitham, will attend dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas... [More]
Summer heat and thunderstorms
Photo caption: The creek bottom beyond the tee box for hole two at Prairie Ridge Golf Course has greened up nicely. Sunday evening’s triple digit temperatures meant the golf course wasn’t overly popular that night. Scattered rainstorms fell over Greeley County... [More]
Community Development News
Country Fresh Market Thank you to everyone who came out to support our first Country Fresh Market of the season last Wednesday! It was great to see so many vendors and community members enjoying the afternoon. Join us again this Wednesday, July 1, from 4:30-6:00 p.m.... [More]
Entries Now Open for KDA Photo Contest
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The beauty of Kansas agriculture can’t be captured by a camera, but we encourage you to try in the annual Kansas Department of Agriculture Photo Contest. KDA is now accepting photo entries, and will continue accepting entries through August 16.... [More]
Board of Supervisors meeting notes clarification
Senior Center Director Chelsey Cavenee reached out and asked us to clarify that the Senior Center board’s question regarding raises at last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting was to ask the Supervisors to consider budgeted employees when raises are given, as the... [More]
More News
- Harvest underway, stalled by Sunday rain
- Payton Walk began role as Community Development director for Greeley County on Monday, June 1
- Lt. Governor Candidate Joe Newland visits Tribune
- Dan, Dan the Magic Man today
- Country Fresh Market kicks off today
- Summer Library Program wraps up Friday
- NEK-CAP, Inc. announces Community Services Block Grant Expansion
- Greeley County firefighters receive over $14,000 from Kansas Department of Insurance
OPINIONS
From the Editor’s iPhone, at the corner of Kiowa County’s Road J and 76
No, there’s not a true intersection there, just a county road, a trail, and a corner post marking the field lines. But there are some free-range yaks - maybe just out of their pen - within a couple of miles. You never know what you’re going to see during harvest…or... [More]
From the editor's desk
Change isn’t my favorite. Though I like to think I’m open-minded and forward-looking, I can become rooted in patterns, comfortable in the way things are done. If I can navigate the mental maze of getting from point A to point Z several times, then just follow... [More]
Letter to the Community: We need lifeguards
How lucky are we to have a small-town swimming pool? Honestly–very. It’s more than just a place to cool off. It’s where summers happen. Kids learn to swim, teens hang out, families relax, and the whole community comes together in one spot. In a small... [More]
In Pursuit: Lesson #1 – From George Washington
Editor’s Note: The Kansas Press Association and Kansas Humanities have partnered to provide access to a series of essays honoring the 250th Anniversary of our nation. There is so much we can learn from the lessons of our past. In Pursuit is a new initiative from... [More]
FFA isn’t all sows, plows, and cows
Photo caption: Anna Marquardt, left, attended the ACC Conference in Lakin last week. Courtesy photo. FFA is growing tomorrow’s leaders, instilling confidence in members, and preparing members for career success and the ACC Conference did just that. ACC stands for authentic,... [More]
Letter to the Editor: Passing the Rotor Act is Plane Common Sense
Failure to pass it means another day, week, month that we put at risk the safety of all passengers who fly our skies. By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) March 6, 2026 Crafted as a response to the deadly midair collision that occurred over the Potomac River in January... [More]
Letter to the Editor
Many of your readers may be interested to learn an artist of national reputation has painted a landscape entitled, Greeley County Summer. It may be viewed on the artist’s website: catherinefreshleyart.com. Click on prints, select paper or canvas and scroll until you find... [More]
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]
More Opinions
- Letter to the Editor
- Right to repair
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the editor: Political uncertainty shakes Kansas farmland values, and prosperity hangs in the balance
- From the Editor’s desk: Reflecting on the Symphony in the Flint Hills
- Letter to the Editor: With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers
- Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump is not our king
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