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James “Jim” Gordon Hoffman, age 86, a resident of Fort Scott, died Tuesday, February 16, 2021. He was born August 22, 1934, to Lester H. and Hazel (Bowers) Hoffman in Ottawa, Kansas.
After graduating from Ottawa High with the class of 1952, he attended the University of Kansas and served in the U.S. Army and the Kansas National Guard.
He moved to Fort Scott in 1959 and retired in 1996 after 42 years as an engineering technician with the Kansas Department of Transportation. He was a past member of the Kansas Jaycees and enjoyed league bowling for 39 years.
He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church. His hobbies were feeding birds and wildlife, spending hours on the internet researching family genealogy, and following his grandchildren’s many activities.
On June 21, 1969, he married Janice Kay Goodsell at Moran, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his wife; a sister, Evelyn Hamilton; a brother, Kenneth Hoffman; and his parents.
He is survived by his children Becky Tourtillott and husband Joe, Fort Scott, and Brian Hoffman and wife Tamara, Lawrence, Kansas, and grandchildren Hannah and Wyatt Tourtillott and Kyle Hoffman. Also surviving are a sister-in-law Mary Kaye Hoffman of Powhatan, Virginia, and a sister-in-law Joyce Todd and husband Gene, Fort Scott, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Private family graveside services will take place Monday, February 22nd, in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. Memorials are suggested to either First United Methodist Church or Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
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
Photo credit: National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and Conexxus
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 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.
Thursday night, February 11, the Eagles played the Marmaton Valley Wildcats in a game that had been rescheduled multiple times since the beginning of the season. Both Varsity teams and girls’ JV won. There was no boys’ JV.
The Lady Eagles defeated the Wildcats 49-35. Danielle Howard scored 23 points and had 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Freshman Rylee Coulter had 5 steals and 3 assists. Sammie Hampton scored 11 points during the game. Karleigh Schoenberger and Gwenyth Fry each had 3 rebounds.
“Coach Walker and I are proud of our team’s effort, attitude, and toughness tonight,” says Coach Miller. “Circumstances have kept us from being together as a team since last Friday, but they finished the night with a couple of league wins. Our celebration will be short-lived as we will be taking on the Southeast Lancers tomorrow night for our Winter Homecoming.”
The boys’ Varsity team also beat the Wildcats, the score being 67-32. Scoring was pretty well distributed among the players; Jake Harvey scored 12 points, Luke Perry scored 10, Cade Goodridge with 9, and Korbin Miller and Dawson Dreisbach each scored 8. Dreisbach also had 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Harvey had 4 steals and Drew Perry had 4 assists.
Coach Hays said, “I thought we came out and played with good energy against Marmaton Valley. We were able to apply some pressure and get out in transition. It was a very balanced scoring night for us. It was fun seeing everyone compete tonight.”
-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter
Kansas Department of Revenue Opens Online Scheduling for In-person Taxpayer Assistance Center Visits
TOPEKA – With the 2021 income tax filing season underway, the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Assistance Center now provides an online scheduling option for in-person appointments. This past November KDOR announced that all in-person appointments to its Taxpayer Assistance Centers require an appointment.
Kansas Taxpayer Assistance Centers aid taxpayers with personal and business tax questions regarding their specific Kansas tax accounts or general tax questions. TAC locations are closed on state holidays.
All appointments are required to be made a minimum of 24-hours ahead of a scheduled visit.
To make an appointment, customers are asked to go to https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/AppointmentScheduler/ApptSchedule/Times?locType=TAX.
If a customer does not have access to the internet, they can contact TAC offices using the below information:
Topeka | Overland Park |
Scott State Office Building Phone: 785-368-8222 Monday – Friday |
Rosana Shopping Center Phone: 913-942-3150 Mondays and Wednesdays |
Phone and email assistance continues to be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Taxpayer Assistance: 785-368-8222
Past-Due Account Assistance: 785-296-6121
General tax-related questions can also be sent by email to [email protected].
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TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that programs that received funding for remote learning are eligible to apply for extensions to support the continuation of online education through Spring 2021. The Remote Learning Grant program will continue to help address learning and supervision needs of school-age children who are not able to attend in-person school due to the pandemic.
“Our top priority is working to safely return our kids and teachers back to in-person learning,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “But until then, these Remote Learning Grants have made and will continue to make a huge difference for families juggling work and virtual school by supporting programs and facilities that provide safe, secure settings for remote learners. I am pleased they will continue into the spring, and I encourage all programs and facilities that qualify to apply.”
During the Fall 2020 school term, 77 organizations across Kansas supported the remote learning needs of school-age children, funded with more than $8,493,000 from the Remote Learning Grants program. In-home child care providers, day care programs, child and youth serving organizations, and even community attractions such as a museum and a zoo, came forward to help.
“The positive impact of families and communities has also been substantial,” said Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. “Remote Learning Grants have focused on support for low-income families and those where one or both parents are first responders, such as nurses, EMTs, police officers, and staff for essential services such as grocery workers. We are pleased to provide to help provide safe, supervised learning environments for our Kansas students.”
“The Remote Learning Grant has enabled Boys & Girls Clubs to close the digital divide and support families in need,” said Romero Brown, the State Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Children and teens now have the opportunity to learn virtually, cultivate critical social skills and receive guidance from caring adult leaders in a positive, safe environment.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs is just one of many recipients of the Remote Learning Grant program.
“The extension of the Remote Learning Grant program will help the Y support more than 1,400 kids from more than seven school districts in the Kansas City area this spring, plus many other kids in Wichita, southwest and central Kansas,” said John Mikos, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. “Thanks to the grant, the Y can offer programs to working families and ensure that the cost isn’t a barrier to them, so parents can go to work relieved their children have the learning support they need in a safe space with caring adults.”
New applications for funding are also available to:
The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund will continue to be responsible for administering the funds, and applications will be evaluated on a weekly basis. All funding must be awarded, and spent by grantees, by May 28, 2021.
Applications are available at https://kschildrenscabinet.org/remote-learning-support/
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.
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.
Anthony Eugene “Tony” Wicks, age 62, a resident of Nevada, Missouri, passed away Friday, February 12, 2021, at his home in Nevada following a lengthy illness. He was born May 10, 1958, in Henderson, Kentucky, the son of Thomas Wicks and Kathryn Craddock Wicks. Tony married Barbara Barker Fugatt on March 1, 1990, in Kansas City, Kansas. In earlier years, he had worked as a groundskeeper in Kansas City. He enjoyed fishing and watching Gunsmoke on tv. Tony attended the Nevada Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of the home; two step-daughters, Linda Fugatt of Lawrence, Kansas and Deanna Jones of Winter Haven, Florida and four step-grandchildren, Tracy, Eddie, Andrew and Derrick. Also surviving are his sisters-in-law, Pat Wallace (Archie), of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Betty Jo Gardner of Hutchinson, Kansas and a brother, James Barker, also of Hutchinson.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.
Following cremation, a private graveside service will be held at a later date at the Prescott Cemetery, Prescott, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.