KC Wolf lauds DARE grads

Youngsters completing the DARE program this year got a furry salute Monday from KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rachel Palmer, a fifth-grade teacher at Iola Middle School, poses for a selfie with KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. Dan Mears, who has donned the wolf costume for the past 32 years, was the keynote speaker at Monday’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) commencement. Photo by Richard Luken
by Richard Luken
Published: January 25, 2022
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Youngsters completing the DARE program this year got a furry salute Monday from KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fresh from rooting on the Kansas City Chiefs to one of their most exciting wins in team history a day earlier, Dan Mears was in Iola Monday to cheer a group of Iola Middle School fifth-graders.

Mears is known more for the costume he dons each Sunday at Chiefs home games as KC Wolf, a job he’s held for the past 32 years.

And while it was a treat cheering at “that boring old football game,” — a 42-36 overtime playoff victory over Buffalo — Mears told the fifth-graders he was equally enamored with what they’ve done in completing a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

Richard Luken

Richard has been a part of the Register family since 1994. Richard covers general news and, on occasion, sports. A native of Moran, Richard came to the paper while still a student at Allen Community College. With mentors former publisher Emerson Lynn Jr. and former veteran reporter Bob Johnson at the ready, Richard learned how to be a star reporter. Over the span of his 28 years his news beats have included school board meetings for Districts 257 and 258, as well as Allen Community College trustee meetings. He’s also routinely covered city council meetings for Iola, Humboldt, LaHarpe and Moran. He’s covered floods, wrecks, true crime — everything from heart-warming to heart-breaking stories. For his work, Richard has consistently won top awards in statewide competitions year after year. Outside the office, he enjoys sports, reading and keeping up with the kids and grandkids.

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