Author: Mary Rupert

Column: My holiday gift guide

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Opinion column

by Mary Rupert

What will you be getting for the holidays this year?

I’m sharing part of my Christmas list as a gift guide today. Ordering early is important when you are basically stuck at home because of health reasons.

This year, one of the best gifts out there is Michelle Obama’s new book, “The Light We Carry.”

Obama is well known for her statement, “When they go low, we go high.” She writes in her new book that they’re still supposed to go high. “We need to keep trying to go high,” she writes. “We must commit and recommit ourselves to the idea. Operating with integrity matters. It will matter forever.”

It’s something you do, not merely feel, she adds.

For her, it’s all about taking an abstract feeling and working to convert it into an actionable plan, she writes.

On another gift idea, who doesn’t need a new pair of jeans? Steve always orders the jeans from Union House at unionlabel.com.

We were paging through Time magazine while waiting at a medical appointment one day. I was impressed by an ad from the Kansas City Steak Company and decided to order a box of steaks for my brother and sister. One box went to KCK while the other went to another state. They both arrived safe and secure, packed in dry ice. I got a little concerned when I thought about how two neighbors let their dogs run loose in my brother’s KCK suburban neighborhood, but he solved that potential problem by making an appointment with the delivery service. I will get a report from them later on how good the steaks were.

Homemade gifts are always great. Of all the various knitted projects I started this year, one turned out pretty well, a shawl. I hinted to my daughter that it might be a good present for her, but she hinted back that it would probably be more appropriate for me.

You can give yourself the gift of reading by getting a library card and signing up for the library’s programs to get books delivered on Kindle or on your computer or tablet, or to check the book out of the library. If you can afford to buy a book, please do once in a while and help the author.

Next year, if in the same situation, I will just go back to having relatives pick up presents at local stores.

To reach Mary Rupert, editor, email [email protected].

Snow and parking emergency declared in KCK

A snow and parking emergency will be in effect in Kansas City, Kansas, starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, according to a Unified Government announcement.

The declaration will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, unless extended.

During a snow emergency:

  • No person shall drive a motor vehicle that doesn’t have tire chains, snow tires, or radial tires in a way that will cause the vehicle to get stalled due to its lack of snow equipment.
  • Vehicles that become stalled on public roadways may be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense.
  • No vehicles shall be parked on any streets designated as snow routes by appropriate signs. Vehicles parked on designated snow routes must be removed within two hours after 10 p.m. Dec. 21.
  • Vehicles parked on designated snow routes may be towed at the owner’s expense.

The last Snow Emergency declared in Kansas City, Kansas, was Nov. 25, 2018.

“The Snow Emergency is meant to increase safety for motorists, pedestrians, and plow drivers,” said Dave Reno, Public Works public information officer. “Extremely low temperatures and high winds will make this storm especially challenging and dangerous for everyone. The public is strongly encouraged to remain home during this storm. Regular updates about winter weather operations will be posted on the Unified Government’s website and social media over the next several days.”

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm and wind chill warnings for Wyandotte County. Temperatures will hover around freezing on Dec. 21. Snow (2”-4”) and strong winds are expected to develop across the area tonight into Thursday, Dec. 22, creating near-blizzard conditions.

Extremely low temperatures and gusting winds make this storm especially challenging and dangerous. Salt treatments, including magnesium chloride, are exponentially less effective when temperatures fall below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning local roads risk becoming extremely slick. When coupled with the potential for blizzard-like conditions, Public Works has reason to believe this storm poses an uncommon safety hazard for the public and snowplow drivers, a spokesman stated.

If you must travel, please remember to slow down, drive with extreme caution, and give teams plenty of room to work safely.

Unified Government Ordinance Section 35-648 permits the UG Public Works director to declare a Snow or Parking Emergency.

To learn more about winter weather operations, view frequently asked questions, and read Public Works’ Snow and Ice Removal policy, visit wycokck.org/Snow.

To report service issues, dial 3-1-1 or visit mywyco.wycokck.org.

  • Information from Unified Government

Chicken recall announced

A chicken recall has been announced by Walmart.

The voluntary chicken recall involves 6,013 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat Crispy Chicken with Almonds entrée, according to the announcement.

The recall is due to misbranding and undeclared allergen. The joint announcement was by Walmart, the Mountain View Packaging, LLC, a Boise, Idaho establishment, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The product contains shellfish (shrimp), a known allergen that is not declared on the product label.

The product was produced Nov. 17. The recall includes:

• 18.5 oz packages of “INNOVASIAN Crispy Chicken with Almonds ENTREE” with lot code 22321-1, UPC code 695119120499, and a best by date 05/24/2023.

The product subject to recall bears the USDA mark of inspection but does not bear the establishment number on the packaging. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that they received a consumer complaint reporting shrimp in a product labeled as Crispy Chicken with Almonds entrée.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.


FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ or retailers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and retailers are urged not to sell them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact the InnovAsian Cuisine hotline at 1-800-324-5140.

For more details, see https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/mountain-view-packaging-llc-recalls-frozen-ready-eat-crispy-chicken-almonds-entree.