High school cheer squads compete for state title

The Piper High School cheerleaders posed after the competition with their plaque. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
 

by Brian Turrel

Cheerleading squads from Piper, Turner, and Bonner Springs high schools competed Saturday in the third annual KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. The Pirates’ cheerleaders took home third place in the 4A division, following up their 2018 championship.

Spirit Gameday is KSHSAA’s state championship for cheerleading, now in its third year. Squads compete in three preliminary rounds — fight song, crowd leading, and band chant. Squads that make the final round perform a routine of their own selection, and then have to lead a cheer that fits a football game scenario randomly assigned by the judges.

Piper led all seventeen 4A squads after the preliminaries, but were edged out by first-place Louisburg in the finals.

Turner and Bonner Springs competed in the 5A division, but were unable to break through to the finals.

All the squads will be returning to the court when basketball season starts in early December.

The Piper High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Turner High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Piper High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Turner High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Piper High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Turner High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Piper High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Turner High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

At PiperFest

PiperFest continued on Sunday at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th, Kansas City, Kansas. The event is a fundraiser for the Piper schools. On Sunday, a car and truck show, pancake breakfast, silent auction and carnival were at Piper High School. The events on Sunday will end at 3 p.m. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)

The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
Animal Crackers store had a booth at PiperFest on Sunday. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
The car and truck show on Sunday at PiperFest, a fundraiser for the Piper schools held at Piper High School. (Staff photo)
The silent auction on Sunday at PiperFest. (Staff photo)
The silent auction on Sunday t PiperFest. (Staff photo)
Some of those attending PiperFest took a few minutes to watch the Chiefs game on televisions inside the school. (Staff photo)
Watching the Chiefs game at PiperFest. (Staff photo)
This year’s PiperFest car and truck show T-shirt is on the right in this display. (Staff photo)
The vehicle that is featured on the back of this year’s T-shirt was the winner of last year’s PiperFest car and truck show. The date of the car show was changed to Sunday this year because of rain on Saturday. (Staff photo)
Trophies were lined up, ready for winners of the PiperFest car and truck show. (Staff photo)
PiperFest participants found some shade on Sunday. (Staff photo)

Saturday events

If there is inclement weather, check with the sponsoring organization to see if the event still will be held.

PiperFest planned Sept. 28
Preparations are underway for the annual PiperFest, a community festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th St., Kansas City, Kansas. A previously announced schedule for PiperFest has been changed because of the rain and storms. The car show will be on Sunday. The fun run will be on Saturday morning. The new schedule can be found at https://wyandotteonline.com/piperfest-schedule-changes-because-of-weather/. The annual event will raise funds for the Piper Public School District 203, according to Sean Ziolo, who is volunteering with the festival’s car show. Highlights of the event will include a pancake breakfast, run-walk, auction, car show, carnival, bingo, concessions and food trucks. For more information, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/piperfest-schedule-changes-because-of-weather/, www.piperfest.com or https://www.facebook.com/pipercarshow/.

Hispanic Heritage Festival planned Sept. 28
A Hispanic Heritage Festival will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Bonner Springs Farmers’ Market at Kelly Murphy Park, 129 Elm St., Bonner Springs. This year’s festival, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, highlights contributions made by the Latino community. The festival will include music, dancers, a clown, bounce houses, food and games.

Adopt-A-Spot to launch Saturday in KCK, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville

The cities of Kansas City, Kansas, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville are teaming up to make Wyandotte County litter free through a grassroots, citizen based program called Adopt-A-Spot. The event will officially launch at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, with Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey, Bonner Springs Mayor Jeff Harrington and Edwardsville Mayor John McTaggart joining for the event at Leo Alvey Park, Metropolitan Avenue and 49th Street South in Kansas City, Kansas. The Adopt-A-Spot program is voluntary and designed for civic-minded groups, businesses, and organizations with an interest in keeping Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, and Kansas City, Kansas litter-free. The Adopt-A-Spot program is open to families, youth organizations, civic groups, nonprofits, churches, schools, social organizations, retiree organizations, and city, county, or state agencies. To learn more and check out the list of adoptable spots, visit the Adopt-A-Spot WyCo page at www.wycokck.org/SOAR/Adopt.

Library in the Park to be Sept. 28
The fifth annual Library in the Park festival will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The festival is free and includes activities for all ages. This year’s special guest is Christine Taylor-Butler, an award winning author of children’s fiction and nonfiction. Free copies of her book, “The Lost Tribes,” will be given away, while supplies last. She will sign copies of her books and conduct two science experiments with children. There will be performances from local groups Drum Safari, The Cubanisms, and The Freedom Affair. Drum Safari will also host three drum circles during the event. Other activities will include Blind Date with a Movie, Music Sampling, Book Fortune Teller, the Yearbook Project, bubbles, face-painting, a photo booth, and lawn games. Attendees will also get to visit the Mobile Library to sign up for a card and check out items. Library in the Park will include a return of the taco competition with local taquerias Carniceria la Luz, San Antonio’s, Daisy’s Mexican Food, and Eduardo’s Pueblito. Attendees will get a chance to sample tacos from all four locations and vote on which taco is the best. The tacos will be provided by KCKPL at no cost to attendees. Attendees will get a chance to sample tacos from all four locations and vote on which taco is the best. The tacos will be provided by KCKPL at no cost to attendees. For more information on Library in the Park and a full schedule of events, visit libraryinthepark.org.

Renaissance Festival continues
The Renaissance Festival will continue from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29, at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. Tickets are $22.95 for adults and $13.95 for children 5 to 12 years old. For more information, visit www.kcrenfest.com.


El Centro Cultural Celebration and Resource Fair planned
El Centro plans a Cultural Celebration and Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at 650 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The event includes a ceremonial dance, folkloric dance, Fiesta Mexicana, healthy cooking demonstrations, food, a disc jockey and activities for kids. Resources will be available on voter registration, Medicaid and other information.

Family story time planned
Family story time is planned from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the youth services craft room at the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The event includes stories, dance and singing. The program is geared to ages 2 to 6. For other library programs, visit www.kckpl.org.

Spanish singing lessons planned
“Clases de Canto,” or Spanish singing lessons, are planned from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in Conference Room B, South Branch Library, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The Spanish language singing class is taught by Sandra Zamora. For other library programs, visit www.kckpl.org.

Slovenefest planned Sept. 28
Volunteers from Holy Family Catholic Church, Kansas City, Kansas, are preparing for the annual Slovenefest, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Monsignor Mejak Hall and Holy Family School grounds, 513 Ohio. The event will include a traditional Slovenian dinner, music and family entertainment. The funds raised will support Holy Family Church. The festival begins after the 4 p.m. Mass on Sept. 28 at Holy Family Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas. The festival from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 28 includes children’s and adult games, cultural booth, souvenirs, a silent auction, authentic Slovenian food including sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls), poljene paprika (stuffed peppers), krvavica (a specialty sausage), Slovenian potato salad and green beans. Tamburitza music from Hravatski Obicaj is featured from 5 to 6 p.m., and Slovenian polkas by the Brian McCarty Band are planned from 6 to 9 p.m. The festival will be held rain or shine.


If there is inclement weather, check with the sponsoring organization to see if the event still will be held. The events here were listed according to their starting times. If you have an event to list that is happening in Wyandotte County, send it to [email protected].