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Sharky’s Is Hiring
Category Archives: Fort Scott
Fort Scott Broadcasting HIring
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Case Ongoing On Credit Card Skimmer at Pete’s Conoco
A Fort Scott Police Department case that began last summer at a local gas station is ongoing.
At the Pete’s Convenience Store on East Wall in August 2020, staff noticed that a lock on the pump door had been tampered with.
The store’s maintenance employee called the FSPD immediately.
An investigation was started by retrieving the skimmer and calling other local and nearby towns to tell them of the illegal activity at the gas pump.
Skimmers are illegal card readers attached to payment terminals. These card readers grab data off a credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe without your knowledge, according to https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/08/watch-out-card-skimming-gas-pump Criminals sell the stolen data or use it to buy things online.
FSPD Detective Sargeant Brian Thurston mailed the skimmer to the U.S. Secret Service.
“They have the technology to get information off of the device to try to identify the perpetrator,” he said.
“The device is Blue Tooth,” he said. “The bad guy can come back and get info off of it.”
The FSPD received information back from the Secret Service on Feb. 16, 2021.
Forty-five people had their information on the skimmer, Thurston said. He has made contact with them.
“We don’t believe any info was retrieved by the suspect,” he said.
His next step is to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and get assistance “to identify the device, then attach someone to that device, to identify a suspect,” he said.
Back in August, the FSPD called local gas stations and also area ones, to tell them of the skimmer.
“In Louisburg a skimmer was at an ATM inside of a store,” Thurston said.
Pete’s Convenience Store has since replaced all the locks on the gas pumps.
The 45 people who were listed on the skimmer are being notified to change their credit card, as a safety precaution, he said.
The Secret Service has sent Thurston information on the device that was connected to that skimmer.
The investigation is ongoing, he said.
How to protect oneself from skimming.
“There is a security seal on the door of the gas pump,” Thurston said. “They are different colors, that I’ve seen, green, yellow, red, blue. If that seal is broken or torn, notify the gas station attendant.”
Here are a few tips to help you avoid a skimmer when you gas up, from the https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/08/watch-out-card-skimming-gas-pump
- Make sure the gas pump panel is closed and doesn’t show signs of tampering. Many stations now put security seals over the cabinet panel. If the pump panel is opened, the label will read “void.”
Photo credit: National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and Conexxus
- Look at the card reader itself. Does it look different than other readers at the station? For example, the card reader on the left has a skimmer attached; the reader on the right doesn’t.
Photo credit: Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Kamloops, Canada
Try to wiggle the card reader before you put in your card. If it moves, report it to the attendant. Then use a different pump.
- If you use a debit card at the pump, run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN. That way, the PIN is safe and the money isn’t deducted immediately from your account.
- If you’re really concerned about skimmers, pay inside rather than at the pump.
- Monitor your credit card and bank accounts regularly to spot unauthorized charges.
If your credit card has been compromised, report it to your bank or card issuer. Federal law limits your liability if your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, but your liability may depend on how quickly you report the loss or theft. For more information, read Lost or Stolen Credit, ATM, and Debit Cards.
100th Kiwanis Pancake Feed Feb. 23
Fort Scott Kiwanis Club had to do a little rearranging of days for their annual pancake feed.
Because of the frigid weather, the fundraising meal was switched from Feb. 16, Fat Tuesday, to Feb. 23.
“The Kiwanis 100th Pancake Feed hasn’t missed serving the community one year in a hundred,” Mark McCoy, spokesman, said.
For many years, pancakes were served at the Scottish Rite Temple in downtown Fort Scott, then at Buck Run Community Center.
This year, it will be a drive-thru only at the First Methodist Church at Third Street and National Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m and then from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“It’s a drive-through only in the front of the church on National,” McCoy said.
“The driveway entrance is on Fourth Street, at the front of the church,” he said.
The cost for pancakes and sausage is $5 a plate.
“Come out and enjoy the pancakes,” McCoy said.”And support a good cause.”
Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time, according to its website. There are more than 550,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in 80 countries and geographic areas.
Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy, and offering guidance.
Following is a list of supporters of the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club Pancake Feed event.
2021 PANCAKE FEED CORPORATE SPONSORS
Atkins Insurance
Billiard Hammer Hartman Insurance
Briggs Auto
Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel
City of Fort Scott
City State Bank
Crain Insurance Agency
Diehl Banwart Bolton, CPAs, PA
Extrusions, Inc.
Edward Jones – Jamie Armstrong
Edward Jones – Richard Goldston
5 Corners Mini Mart
Fort Scott Broadcasting
G & W Foods
Graphic Resources Corp
H & H Realty
Heidrick’s True Value
Kansas Teachers Community
Credit Union
Key Industries
Klip Joint
Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home
Liberty Savings Association, FSA
Labconco
Landmark Bank
McDonald’s
Max Patterson, DDS
Mid-Continental Restoration Co.
Mike Carnes Family
Norris Heating and Air
Conditioning
Nuss & Farmer, PA
Reynolds Law Firm
R & R Equipment
Security 1st Title
SEK Financial, LLC
Sekan Printing Company, Inc.
Sonic Drive-In
Union State Bank
Valu Merchandisers
Ward-Kraft, Inc.
RICHARD GOLDSTON
G & W FOODS
McDONALD’S
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SONIC DRIVE-IN
WARD-KRAFT, INC.
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE SPONSORS
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
FS Airport Advisory Board Meeting Canceled for Noon Today
The Airport Advisory Board that was scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at the City Commission meeting room at City Hall has been canceled due to inclement weather. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
FS City Planning Commission Meets Feb. 22
The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, February 22nd, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider a Conditional Use Permit for the property located between the 1500 and 1600 block of Scott Avenue to construct a storage unit facility. Another case will be held to consider a change of zoning from R-1 (Residential) to C-3 (Commercial) for the property at 600 N. Crawford.
This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
City Manager: Buck Run Warming Center
The Arctic weather has brought possible outages to the region.
The City of Fort Scott personnel has worked to provide a place for people, should they need it.
“The warming center/station that is being established at the Buck Run Center is a location that we have identified as suitable for emergency warming needs,” Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier said in an email interview. “This location will not include service.”
Buck Run Community Center is located at 735 Scott Avenue.
“That means that, at this time, we do not anticipate serving drinks or food,” he said. “However there is significant space and we do have 50 cots available for immediate access and additional cots available as needed off-site that can be brought to the location. Additionally, we would provide as many blankets as are needed.”
Frazier noted that even though the Buck Run Community Center is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. this evening, if needed, individuals can contact the Fort Scott Police Department dispatch at 911 non-emergency and a staff member will be available to allow immediate access.
“We have been advised that there will be rolling blackouts,” Frazier said. “This means that the Southwest Power Pool and its partners which include Evergy, will institute phased outages to manage electricity and utility demand as necessary. If and when this occurs we ask that residents allow 30 minutes to 1 hour BEFORE they consider relocating to Buck Run if they determine that a need to relocate to a warmer location/facility is necessary.”
“In the event of power blackouts the majority of the facility will be without power with the exception of the northernmost basketball court area,” Frazier said. “This area will serve as the room reserved for heating purposes. Therefore all other operations and uses will be suspended during an electric blackout.”
City Offers Warming Center At Buck Run
Buck Run to be used as a community warming center in the event of widespread power outage.
The City of Fort Scott is currently experiencing dangerously cold temperatures that will continue throughout the week. Extreme weather conditions are creating both high demand for electricity and stress on power production.
Beginning on February 15 at 12:15 p.m., Evergy will begin to turn off electricity to blocks of customers for approximately 30 – 60 minutes. Once the period has concluded, power will be restored to the impacted area. The emergency outages will then rotate to another portion of Evergy’s service area. Power will cycle off and on periodically until the reduction is no longer required by the Southwest Power Pool.
If you are impacted by an emergency electricity reduction, you do not need to report your outage. Rather, check Evergy’s outage map and www.evergy.com/outageinfo for more information. All customers should be prepared for the potential for these periodic outages. If you experience an outage that lasts longer than an hour, report your outage at www.evergy.com or call 888-544-4852 or 800-544-4857,for Kansas Central customers.
Regional power management officials are asking all customers to conserve energy as much as possible to avoid potential widespread outages.
In the event of a widespread power outage, the City of Fort Scott has identified Buck Run Community Center as a warming center for the public. This warming center is not staffed to provide services but is a safe place to get warm.
Buck Run Community Center is located at 735 Scott Avenue.
Sign up for local emergency alerts at fscity.org. Please stay safe and stay warm.
Jeremy Frazier
City Manager
Energy Conservation Encouraged With Natural Gas
Kansas Gas Service Encourages Customers to Conserve Energy
During Extended Cold Weather
Video toolkit features Managing VP of Operations answering common questions
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Feb. 13, 2021 – As frigid weather settles over Kansas for an extended period, Kansas Gas Service encourages customers to practice simple energy-saving tips and conservation efforts to manage their winter heating bills.
“Due to the extended duration of historically low temperatures, we are seeing much higher natural gas use and natural gas prices have gone up,” said Kent Shortridge, vice president of operations for Kansas Gas Service. “While we do not markup the price of natural gas, these events will have an impact on customer bills. At this time, we can’t quantify what the impact will be.”
Energy-saving Measures to Reduce Natural Gas Usage
To help better manage your energy consumption over the extended winter period and help reduce your energy bills, Kansas Gas Service encourages these effective, conservation measures:
• Keep warm, not hot When possible wear additional layers of clothing, consider turning down your thermostat and check your programmable settings.
• Seal leaks around doors and windows Apply weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to stop air leaks and prevent energy loss. If that is not an option, you can also cover windows with towels, sheets or plastic to help keep the warm air in your house.
• Reduce the temperature on your water heater Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or put it on the “warm” setting. If your home will be vacant for two days or more, set the dial to the pilot position for even more savings.
• Close blinds and curtains This helps keep warm air inside, especially if the sun is not shining.
• Change or clean filters
A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Dirty
filters cost more to use and overwork the equipment.
• Hold off on doing chores
Doing laundry and washing dishes can both use natural gas to heat the water and your dryer. If you can, wait until the extreme cold weather passes to complete these activities.
If you cannot wait, use the cold setting where possible.
• Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets
Electrical switches and outlets can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.
Additionally, remember these safety tips:
• Never use your stove or oven for home heating.
• Make sure nothing obstructs a furnace’s air intake and that vents and flues are intact and unblocked to avoid the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• When removing ice and snow in the vicinity of meters, vents or flues, do so carefully so as not to cause damage.
• Leave cabinet doors open, especially those on exterior walls, to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
• If you smell a natural gas odor, leave the area immediately then call 911 and 888- 482-4950.
Customers are encouraged to visit KansasGasService.com/SevereCold for any company severe
weather updates.
Digital toolkit
Kent Shortridge, managing vice president of Operations for Kansas Gas Service, answers common customer usage questions:
https://vimeo.com/onegascomms/download/512084053/7dedd9394a
• :03 – :13 Why are you asking customers to conserve?
• :17 – :36 How much natural gas will customers use during this cold snap?
• :40 – 1:10 How will this impact customer bills?
• 1:13 – 1:31 What steps should customers take to conserve energy?
• 1:36 – 2:03 Are you expecting a shortage in gas supply?
• 2:07 – 2:18 What is being done to ensure service to critical facilities?
• 2:22 – 2:38 What is the impact on large commercial and industrial customers?
• 2:42 – 3:04 How well is your pipeline system operating?
• 3:08 – 3:35 Have you experienced any system failures or outages?
FS Airport Advisory Board Meeting Feb. 17
The Airport Advisory Board will meet on Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at the City Commission meeting room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
Kiwanis Pancake Feed Rescheduled to Feb. 23
The Fort Scott Kiwanis Club has decided to postpone the annual pancake feed scheduled for next Tuesday.
The 100th Annual Fort Scott Kiwanis Pancake Feed will be on Feb. 23.
Submitted by Phil Gorman
FS City Commission Agenda For Feb. 16
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL
CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
FEBRUARY 16, 2021
6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
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Roll Call:
K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones
II. Flag Salute:
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Invocation: Led by: Parson Dave Mohler, American Legion Post #25 Chaplain
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Approval of Agenda:
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Proclamations/Recognitions:
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Consent Agenda:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 2nd, 2021 and special meeting minutes of February 11th, 2021.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1282-A totaling $481,476.32.
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January financials
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Lauber Municipal Law Firm – January Invoice – $16,432.50.
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Request to Pay – SAM, LLC – Sanitary Sewer System GPS Data Collection – $9,000.00
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Request to Pay – Joplin Roofing Co., Inc – Replacement of Wastewater Treatment Plant roof – $29,368.00.
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Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
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City Manager Reports and Comments:
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Director Report: Susan Bancroft – Sick and Vacation Liability Numbers
Review of Purchase Policy
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Old Business: None
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Appearances: None
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New Business:
1. Consideration of Golf Cart Lease Agreement
2. Consideration of Charter Ordinance regarding Residency
3. Consideration of Charter Ordinance to replace vacant City Commissioner position
4. Consideration of Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades – Request for Engineering Services
5. Consideration of Water Treatment Plant – Request for Engineering Services
6. Discussion of First Source building -Selling, Renting, Marketing
7. Approval of Bid and documentation for Mayor to sign for Mayco Ace Project – CDBG Grant
8. Approval to apply for the Rural Preservation Grant for Memorial Hall
9. Consideration to accept Request for Qualifications for City Attorney
XII. Reports and Comments:
B. Commissioners Reports and Comments:
C. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XIV. Adjournment: