Category: Wyandotte County

KCKPD offices to close on Thursday

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s business offices will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 22.

According to an announcement, these offices are closing along with all UG offices on Thursday because of the winter weather storm prediction.

While UG offices also will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23, the police department will reopen on Friday, Dec. 23, weather allowing, according to the announcement. The decision will be made at a later time and posts will be made to social media.

The closure will include the KCKPD Records Department.

Options are listed for anyone needing to file a police report during the weather event:

By Phone
913-573-8680
6:45 a.m. – 10 p.m.

In Person
Police Headquarters, 700 Minnesota Ave.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
East Patrol, 849 N. 47th St.
6:45 a.m. – 10 p.m.
South Patrol, 2200 Metropolitan Ave.
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

As always, call 911 in case of emergency.

Please, do not get out if you do not have to as wind chills are expected to be dangerously low, a police spokesman stated. Check on the elderly and please shelter pets appropriately.

UG closes nonessential buildings Thursday and Friday

With a winter storm predicted, Unified Government offices will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 22, and Friday, Dec. 23.

The UG will continue to support the needs of the community by continuing many services remotely while maintaining essential operations throughout the storm.

Some additional updates on specific services:

• KCK Municipal Court: Any scheduled hearings for Thursday and Friday will be continued to a later date and time and persons will receive notification of their new court date in the mail. Payments can still be made by using the MyWyco App or by visiting the UG webpage. Also, for persons in jail, bonds can be posted at the jail; otherwise, bonds cannot be posted during this closure.

• Meals on Wheels: Delivery of food will be suspended Thursday and Friday. The Area Agency on Aging will be providing alternatives to get food to seniors.

• Public Health Clinic: The Public Health Department will be keeping their clinic open until 6 p.m. Wednesday. All patients for Thursday and Friday have been contacted to reschedule appointments.

• Recreation Centers: The Parks and Recreation Department will be opening the recreation centers as warming centers. Find location and time information on the website. The cold weather overnight shelter will also be available evenings.

• Trash Pickup: As previously announced, trash pickup will start at 5 a.m. on Thursday and run for as long as conditions will allow. If you are scheduled for trash pickup on Thursday, Dec. 22, please bring your trash to the curb Wednesday night.

• Treasury and Motor Vehicles offices will be closed as well. Please use the MyWyCo app for any payments.

• WIC Appointments:
Appointments will be held by telephone for Thursday and Friday. There will be no disruption of service because we are able to switch to remote operations.

Snow emergency: parking restrictions
The Department of Public Works has also declared a snow emergency effectiveWednesday night at 10 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 23, at 11:59 p.m. which means there are parking restrictions to allow for snow removal.

In anticipation of the upcoming extreme winter weather conditions all Unified Government offices will be closed on Thursday, Dec 22, and Friday, Dec. 23. The Unified Government will continue to support the needs of the community by continuing many services remotely while maintaining essential operations throughout the storm, a spokesman stated.

As additional updates are available, the UG will continue to update its website at www.wycokck.org.

Column: My holiday gift guide

Window

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].