A northeast Kansas man accused of trying to ask a child for a sexual act at a St. Joseph library made his first appearance in court Tuesday.

James Hopkins, 73 of Elwood, Kan. is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of enticement of a child.

Hopkins appeared by video conference from the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center for an arraignment Tuesday. As we previously reported, on July 5 at the Carnegie Branch Library located at 316 Massachusetts Hopkins is accused of trying to solicit and coax a child less than 13 to engage in sexual contact.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 30. Hopkins remains behind bars on $25,000 cash only bail.

A single judge will hear all six cases involving the alleged drug deal and robbery that led to the fatal shooting of Skylar Powell last May. Circuit Judge Patrick Robb agreed with Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins that having one judge handle all six cases would guarantee a fair outcome for the state and for the co-defendants. But both also agreed that a single trial for all six defendants will not happen.

Dayne Matthews, Ashten Surriette, Gabriel Dawson, Kyle Smith, Justin Smith, and Jayden Maynard face a range of charges for their alleged roles in the attempted robbery and homicide.

The body of Skylar Powell was found fatally shot in a parking lot near 22nd and Frederick just days after his high school graduation. Investigators believe he was planning on robbing Matthews during a marijuana deal.

Judge Robb on Monday also arraigned the last of the defendants to be charged. Jayden Maynard is accused of acting as the lookout during the robbery. He’s charged with first degree attempted robbery.

Judge Robb sustained a defense motion to reduce Maynard’s bail to $20,000.

All six defendants are scheduled to return to court for a docket call on September 7.

(Update 2:30 p.m.) The St. Joseph Police Department is still searching for multiple suspects after incidents Monday morning in St. Joseph that prompted lockdowns at all schools in the St. Joseph School District.

An incident on South 13th sent a man to the hospital with a gunshot wound that police deemed to be non-life threatening.  A second incident on Park Lane led to two victims that sustained what police described as vicious lacerations.

Schools were placed on lock down for about three hours this morning around 9 a.m. while police investigated.  It was also the first day of classes.  Lockdown was lifted after district officials determined there did not appear to be an immediate threat to students or staff members.

Sgt. Jill Voltmer said shortly before 3 p.m. police were still searching for a vehicle and multiple suspected in connection with the case.  The investigation continues.

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(UPDATE 11:50 a.m.) – The St. Joseph School District has been released from lockdown status as police have been investigating three separate shooting reports Monday morning.

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St. Joseph police were investigating separate shooting reports Monday morning, one of which prompted a school lockdown on the first day of classes.

According to Joey Austin of the St. Joseph School District, the Webster Learning Center was placed on lockdown because of an incident in the area. The center is located at 1211 North 18th Street in Midtown St. Joseph. Officers were investigating a shooting incident about four blocks away at the Circle View Apartments on Park Place north of Holman Street. The apartments are about a block north and east of 22nd and Frederick.

Austin says St. Joseph police are investigating the incident, but others are also of concern. As a precaution, the St. Joseph School District placed all schools in the district on lockdown.

“As police continue to investigate a vehicle involved in multiple incidents throughout the city, the safety of our students and staff is of top priority and therefore all students and staff members will remain in their buildings until further notice,” said Ms Austin in a news release.

An official we spoke to near the Circle View crime scene said there were at least three different shooting investigations underway during the 9 o’clock hour.

We will update as we find out more information.

The hearing impaired community will soon be able to experience the Missouri Theater a little more clearly with the addition of a looping system.

Pat Dillon with the St. Joseph Sertoma Club said it’s a project that has been in the works for quite some time.

“Looping is something that is done to a facility or building so that people with hearing aids can tap into the sound system,” Dillon said. “Anyone who is sitting on the first floor which is the looped area we’re going to do will be able to click on their hearing aid, if it has what’s called a T-coil in the hearing aid and it would automatically pull the sound through the sound system.”

The project will begin Monday.  Dillon said the hope is to get the entire system set up and ready to go by Tuesday afternoon.

“Kind of a copper tape that has to be laid out along the floor of the theater, that needs to be put down.  It all needs to be synchronized, tied into the sound system, tested and all that,” Dillon said. “Volunteers from our Sertoma Club are going to put in time also to help reduce the cost.”

Total cost is anticipated at around $15,000.  He said the St. Joseph Sertoma Club and the City of St. Joseph are splitting the bill.

“Our club was only going to be able to fund enough of it to do just one little section of the theater and we really didn’t want to do just one little section or one seating area we wanted to be able to do the entire first floor,” Dillon said. “It just makes the Missouri Theater once again more open and accessible for folks in our community.  There’s a large population of folks that have hearing loss or hearing disorders and this project just opens the arts back up to them.”

Dillon said the looping system will work for anyone on the first floor. He said the system should be easy to use.

Teachers will greet students for the start of the school year Monday in the St. Joseph School District.

Dir. of Elementary Education Michele Norman said teachers have been getting ready for the past week.

“The week before the students come back is a critical time in the school years just in that planning and preparation,” she said. “Set up of their classrooms to make the most effective use of their classroom space, they’re getting some training on some new science resources that we’ve brought into the district for this next school year as well as just that first meeting of getting to meet the children that they are going to serve.”

This year there are around 145 new teachers in the district.  Norman said 60 of those are elementary school teachers.  Norman is also a new feature with the district, replacing Dr. Brian Shindorf earlier this year who resigned to take on another position.  Norman said she is looking forward to working with the district and moving forward.

“It was an opportunity to come and be a part of a team that was healing and to move the district forward,” Norman said. “We want to make the school experience the most positive that we can make it for every single student.  We want them to come to school and learn the things they need to learn but also we want them to know that school is a place that they’re cared for and valued.”

Mondays marks the official end of summer vacation for St. Joseph School District students.  Norman offers a few tips for parents.

“Just being prepared for the first day.  I know with my own children laying out their clothes, knowing what they’re going to wear, those first day traditions.  Taking those first day pictures, having their basic supplies that they need to take with them,” Norman said. “Making that transition a very positive and healthy one for the students but also for the parents.”

A campaign to promote safe driving among teens is calling for schools to sign-up.

The “It Only Takes One” campaign gives students the chance to win prizes for their school while educating young drivers about safe driving habits and safety belt use.

As we previously reported, last year was the first time every high school in St. Joseph took part in the campaign which used to be known as Battle of the Belt.

The yearly campaign is sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, ACT Missouri, Midwest Trauma Society and Missouri College of Emergency Physicians. The statewide competition will run from October 1 to the end of the school year.

“Seven out of ten young drivers and passengers (15-19) killed in 2015 Missouri vehicle traffic crashes weren’t buckled up,” said Bill Whitfield, executive committee chair for the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. “Through education, competition and fun, the ‘It Only Takes One’ campaign can make a difference with young Missourians and save lives.”

The program consists of two surprise safety belt checks at each registered high school to measure student safety belt usage, and also includes creative educational campaigns that promote safe driving throughout the school year. In addition, schools have the opportunity to submit a 30-second video spot aimed at encouraging their peers to buckle up and drive safe.

To sign-up your local high school to participate in the “It Only Takes One” competition MoDOT said to go to www.saveMOlives.com/itonlytakesone before September 30th.

The St. Joseph Animal Shelter is looking for volunteers for a makeover project. 

GreaterGood’s Rescue Rebuild will be in St. Joseph next month to work on some improvement to the local shelter. 

Shelter Humane Educator Jenna Keyes said the main goal of the makeover, sponsored by Nestle Purina, is to improve the cat housing. 

“Our main purpose is to find more ways to create more cat housing and create good environments for the dogs as well, and just brighten up the shelter and do a little bit of a makeover,” Keyes said. 

The work will take place from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. September 10th through the 18 at the shelter. Keyes said they need a lot of volunteers to have a successful makeover. 

“There will be all different types of volunteer positions where you can fit in and use your skills to help out the shelter,” Keyes said. “Any volunteers we can get out here that are willing to help and really make a big difference for the animals here at the shelter, we greatly appreciate that support.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for any part of the project needs to register online and fill out a survey indicating areas of interest and time availability. For more information, go to the Friends of the Animal Shelter Facebook page or fill out the survey here.  

A 64-year-old Cameron woman was hospitalized after a rollover crash Friday morning.

The crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says Ruth Powers was driving along Old U.S. Highway 36 near West Sale Barn Road at 7:15 a.m. when she lost control of her Chevy Tracker

The S.U.V. left the roadway and overturned, coming to rest on its wheels off the south side of the highway. Ms. Powers was transported to Cameron Regional Medical Center for treatment of what were described as moderate injuries.