Welborn Lake residents plant rain garden, plan more improvements

Residents of Welborn Lake planted a rain garden around the lake on Saturday to prevent erosion. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

by Mary Rupert

Residents of Welborn Lake, near 48th and Leavenworth Road, planted a rain garden today to control erosion and are planning more improvements next week.

The residents heard a presentation today from David Dods, an environmental scientist, on how rain gardens prevent erosion by filtering the water runoff from the street. He also handed out information to the residents about rain gardens, native plants and preventing erosion.

Then residents planted several varieties of native plants around Welborn Lake’s edge.

Helen Ann Caples, a resident of the area, said on Monday, a company will remove the duckweed from the surface of Welborn Lake and then treat it with chemicals. The process will take place in three stages, she said, on three days.

Residents in the Welborn Lake area formed the Welborn Lake group a few years ago in order to take care of the lake, which is privately owned by the residents.

The Welborn Lake group received a $3,000 grant from the Unified Government, under Livable Neighborhoods, in order to provide the funding for the rain garden presentation and to clean up Welborn Lake, Caples said.

The stormwater educational grant will help educate the residents on erosion control and improve water quality, she said. The effort also is bringing people together, she added.

“A lot of neighbors are coming together to work with the lake,” Caples said.

Residents of Welborn Lake planted native plants around the edge of the lake to help prevent erosion. A larger cleanup of the lake is planned starting Monday. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Residents listened today to a presentation by David Dods, an environmental scientist, on rain gardens and how to prevent erosion. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
David Dods explained how native plants will help prevent erosion at Welborn Lake. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
It rained on Saturday, and some water pooled at the edge of the roadway around Welborn Lake. Residents are planting some native plants to help control erosion. (Staff photo)
Residents planted some native plants on Saturday around Welborn Lake to help control erosion. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Residents planted some native plants on Saturday around Welborn Lake to help control erosion. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Residents planted some native plants on Saturday around Welborn Lake to help control erosion. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Several varieties of native plants and grasses were planted at Welborn Lake on Saturday. (Staff photo)

At the Piper car show

A variety of makes and models were on exhibit today at the Piper car show, which is part of the Piper Community Festival at Piper High School. The car show ran through 3 p.m. Saturday with other activities at the festival continuing through 9 p.m. Saturday at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Admission is free and open to the public, with funds raised going toward the Piper Educational Foundation. For more information, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/festival-car-show-planned-saturday-at-piper/ or www.piperfest.com. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Piper car show today. (Photo by Steve Rupert)

Braves survive rough start, win 41-21

Senior running back Keyon Thomas (3) tried to slip the grasp of an Ottawa defender. Thomas scored two touchdowns, grabbed an interception, and was named homecoming king. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Bonner Springs Braves overcame a rocky first quarter, coming from two touchdowns behind to overtake the Ottawa Cyclones for a 41-21 victory on the Braves’ homecoming night.

A large, loud, orange-clad crowd filled David Jaynes Stadium, but they were quickly hushed when the Braves’ first two possessions ended in interceptions. Ottawa used the short field to run up two scores, leaving the Braves 14 points down.

Bonner quarterback Noah Villareal steadied the offense in the second quarter, and his pass selection became more controlled, choosing swing passes and sideline routes instead of throwing over the middle. The Braves offensive line also loosened up the running lanes to get backs Keyon Thomas and Bryce Krone consistent yardage.

Villareal connected with Ethan Byers in the corner of the end zone for the Braves first score with 9 minutes left in the second quarter. After a defensive stop, the Braves scored again, with Keyon Thomas running in a toss from Villareal, to make the score 14-12.

With less than a minute left in the half, receiver A.J. Watson took a pitch 61 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion put the Braves ahead 20-14.

The Braves played prevent defense to run out the half, but Ottawa still retook the lead on a controversial play. Cornerback Nasjon Porter intercepted a last-second Ottawa pass, but he was stripped of the ball, which Ottawa ran in for a touchdown, giving them a 21-20 halftime advantage. The Braves’ sideline insisted the pass was incomplete to no avail.

Bonner’s defensive line clamped down in the second half, getting several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The Braves also upped the pressure on the return game, trying multiple times for an onside kick, and recovering one midway through the third quarter.

Ethan Byers pulled in his second touchdown early in the third quarter to pull the Braves back in front for good.

Keyon Thomas scored on a 59-yard pass play with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Bryce Krone followed up an 18-yard run with a 2-yard touchdown carry to top off the scoring. Late interceptions from Keyon Thomas and Noah Villareal kept the Cyclones’ offense from mounting a late challenge.

The victory takes Bonner Springs’ Frontier League record to 2-4. They play at Baldwin next Friday evening at 7 p.m.

Junior running back Bryce Krone turned the corner for a big gain. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Senior quarterback Noah Villareal fired a touchdown pass to Byers in the corner of the end zone. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Junior wide receiver Ethan Byers (14) pulled down the first of his two touchdown receptions. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Keyon Thomas was named homecoming king and embraced last year’s king Alonzo Hokes. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs cheerleaders performed in front of the large homecoming crowd. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Senior defensive end Dominick Jennings (9) narrowly missed a sack when Ottawa quarterback Elias White (5) managed to throw the ball away. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Junior offensive lineman William Johnson (75) set up protection for the quarterback. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Senior kicker Sydni Bolewski (25) kicked an extra point in the second half. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs head coach Chad Eaddy ran onto the field with his team before the game. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs High School marching band performed after the game. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
The drill team and band performed on the field after the game. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Senior receiver A.J. Watson (1) cut back against the Ottawa defense. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)