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- 1. By JESSICA KOKESH Hub Regional Editor HASTINGS — Fear. That’s what Laura Rinehart said kept her from standing up to her father, Peter Draper, when he disciplined her son Joseph Rinehart Jr. at their Naponee home. Fear is what kept her from initially telling investigators about her father’s abuse until both she and her father were arrested and in jail and the toddler was dead. Rinehart, 25, testified for several hours Tuesday in Adams County District Court where Draper is on trial for the April 2012 death of his grand- son. He is charged with one count of child abuse resulting in death and one count of child abuse. During her testimony, Rine- hart described living with her parents and her four children in Naponee and the discipline methods Draper used on her children. Draper’s public defender, Charlie Brewster of Kearney, asked Rinehart about Draper’s interactions with his grandchil- dren. Rinehart said he mostly played with the youngest child. He built the oldest child a barn for Christmas and often drove them to doctor’s appointments. Rinehart was the primary caregiver for the children. She said Draper began criticizing her disciplinary style in August 2011. “I remember he told me that I have no backbone,” she said. “That I need to take a stand and show (the children) who’s boss.” “I didn’t think it was right,” Rinehart said of her father’s punishments for Joseph, which included making him stand daily in the corners for hours at a time or holding 3 to 5 $1 Deaths 6A, 7A Michael Bjornson.................Kearney Jerry Carbaugh...................Holdrege Clarence Damratowski..Loup City Al Diederich .........................California Loretta Farr..............................Kearney Robert Goc...........................Loup City Richard Graham.....................Kansas Glen Hawley.....................North Loup Rose Ann Messersmith..Holdrege Stella Randall..........................Gibbon Esther Rishel..................Plattsmouth Doris Ann Royle ....................Purdum Maxine Schlientz..........North Platte Ethel Tool ............................Elm Creek Marvin Walker ........................Kearney Vernon White..........................Kearney $1 • As low as 44 cents with home delivery WEDNESDAY, May 8, 2013 www.kearneyhub.com • 125th year, 169th issue Touchdown Tommie finally in Hall Former UNL quarterback was one of 12 selected. 1B Leadership Kearney graduates Apply for class, meet the grads. 3A & 9-11A Four cities compete for site of VA home Turkey causes rollover fatality near Shelton By KIM SCHMIDT Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — A dead turkey in the road is to blame for the death of a Kearney teen Tuesday near Shelton. Daniela Rodriguez, 15, of Kearney died Tuesday after- noon in a one-vehicle rollover crash. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, about 2:40 p.m. Bitia Organista Ojeda, 16, of Kearney was driving a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer west on Inter- state 80 two miles east of Shelton in Hall County when he swerved to miss a dead turkey on the road. The sport utility vehicle went into the median, Ojeda overcorrected, and the vehicle rolled twice. Rodriquez was ejected. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the State Patrol said. Ojeda was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, while Rodriguez was not. Ojeda was transported to Kearney’s Good Samaritan Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. email to: kim.schmidt@kearneyhub.com By ADAM KONRUFF Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — Competition to be the site of a 225-room central Nebraska Veterans Affairs home now includes North Platte and Hastings. “As of now, we have received letters of interest from Kearney, Grand Island, North Platte and Hastings,” said Rod Anderson, administrator at the Nebraska Administrative Ser- vices State Building Division. The city will submit propos- als for a possible site and con- struction plans to replace the 125-year-old Grand Island Vet- erans’ Home. Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse said competition will push the towns to devote resources and effort to the project in order to offer a more attractive option than the others. “Each community will have the chance to put their best foot forward for the state to decide,” Clouse said. Kearney offi- cials received a list of criteria last week. Clouse said city representa- tives began going over the list early this week to update the original proposal that was drawn up last year when reloca- tion of the home was proposed. Anderson said the deadline for proposals is June 11. The Site Selection Committee will evaluate each proposal and visit the sites on June 13 and 14. Each site will be scored based on an extensive list of criteria. The final site will be chosen based on these scores. “We think we’ve got a great location that will be very attractive to the selection com- mittee,” Clouse said. To be considered, the commu- nity must be at least a two-hour drive from veterans’ homes in Norfolk, Bellevue and Scotts- bluff but no farther than a two- hour drive from Grand Island. The State Building Division criteria states that proposed sites must include a one-story building capable of housing 225 beds on 45 acres. Square plots are preferred over long and narrow sites. Proposed locations should not have abrupt changes in ele- vation greater than 6 feet and shall slope toward natural or adequately designed and con- structed drainage features. The community must show it will be able to staff the building. Clouse said this was the only issue that may cause problems for Kearney and the other cities. “A lack of certified nurses in central Nebraska makes this an issue for any of the cities,” Clouse said. He said the expan- sion of the nursing program at the University of Nebraska FARMERS TRY TO COPE: TOO DRY, TOO WET Lori Potter, Kearney Hub MARK GLOE plants corn in a field along Highway 30 between Wood River and Shelton Tuesday afternoon as rain clouds build to the south. Hub Territory rainfall through this morning ranged from zero to about one- half inch, according to NeRAIN postings from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Areas around Min- den, Funk, Axtell, Hildreth and Litchfield had about one-half inch, and points near Wood River, Elm Creek and Wilcox reported about 0.30. Stamp Out Hunger with Post Office food drive By ADAM KONRUFF Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — Kearney Post Office letter carriers will multi- ply their efforts to Stamp Out Hunger Saturday when the annual food drive collects donations for five local food pantries for the first time in the event’s 21-year history. Letter carriers began partici- pating in Stamp Out Hunger, formerly the Letter Carrier’s Food Drive, 20 years ago. Food is collected annually as part of a nationwide effort to alleviate hunger. Food collected in Kearney has gone to Kearney’s Jubilee Center since the beginning of the program. This year’s haul will be distributed to four other food pantries in addition to the Jubilee Center. “Food pantries in Kearney have seen tremendous increases in customers over the last two years,” said Lisa Reese Parish, executive director of the United Way of the Kearney Area. “We want to make sure we are help- ing as many people as possible.” Food pantries at Prince of Peace Catholic Church and Kearney eFree Church, along with Helping Hands Food Pantry in the Family Taberna- cle Church and East Lawn Food Pantry run by First Unit- ed Methodist Church, will receive portions of the food collected from this year’s drive. “We hope to get more of a ““EEaacchh ccoommmmuunniittyy will have the chance to put their best foot forward for the state to decide ... We think we’ve got a great location that will be very attractive to the selection committee.” Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse VETERAN’S HOME, PAGE 2A DRAPER TRIAL, PAGE 2A ““II rreemmeemmbbeerr he told me that I have no backbone. That I need to take a stand and show (the children) who’s boss. I didn’t think it was right.” Laura Rinehart Victim’s mom: Fear kept me quiet Draper’s daughter testifies, claims he abused her, child Peter Draper Rick Tucker, Kearney Hub NEBRASKA STATE PATROL Trooper Andy Allen, left, and Trooper Dave Pohl investigate a one- vehicle traffic crash on Interstate 80 that took the life of a 15-year-old Kearney girl. Fifteen-year-old dies in accident STAMP OUT HUNGER, PAGE 2A MORE ON WEATHER AFFECTING CROPS PAGE 12A
- 2. response from the community by expanding our recipients,” said Daryl Kozel of Kearney, retired mail carrier and coordi- nator of the food drive. Kozel was instrumental in bringing the Letter Carrier Food Drive, a national effort, to Kearney. Kozel was a carrier with Kearney Post Office for 30 years before retiring in May 2010. He said he feels com- pelled to give back to a town that has supported him through decades of good times and bad. Kozel and other volunteers will collect nonperishable food beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Donations will also be accept- ed at the Post Office in the weeks before and after the food drive. Mid-Nebras- ka Food Bank will distribute the donat- ed food to the pantries following the food drive. East Lawn Food Pantry located at Lot 342 of East Lawn Mobile Home Estates was started two years ago and serves the needs of families living in East Lawn Estates. Delroy Hemfath of Kearney, coordinator of the East Lawn Food Pantry, said the pantry and its patrons will benefit greatly from the food drive. “We rely on food donations from church members, other organizations and food drives like this to help these fami- lies,” Hemfath said. He said 80 to 100 families visit the pantry each week. Hemfath said most of the families he sees have parents with jobs that don’t pay enough to cover all of their bills and buy food. Parish said pro- viding these fami- lies with food allows them to use their money on other bills which may keep them from becoming homeless or losing their car. “The more we can empower these pantries by stocking their shelves, the more people they will be able to help,” she said. email to: adam.konruff@kearneyhub.com Medical Center on the Universi- ty of Nebraska at Kearney cam- pus would reduce the problem. Once a site is chosen, the Site Selection Committee will present its recommendation to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. HHS will present the selected site to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which will decide if federal funding should be appropriated for the site. Anderson said he would be surprised if the VA doesn’t accept the proposal and recom- mend federal funding of the project. Federal funding will cover 65 percent of the costs, and the state will fund the rest. Both the state Appropriations Committee and Gov. Heine- mann have earmarked $47 mil- lion for the project in their pro- posals for the state budget. email to: adam.konruff@kearneyhub.com CONTINUED FROM 1A VVEETTEERRAANN’’SS HHOOMMEE:: Page 2A • Kearney Hub • Wednesday, May 8, 2013 Vista Pointe Plaza, 5012 3rd Ave. May 17& 18 25th & Central Ave. Downtown Kearney: The Bricks Fri. 5-11 pm • Sat. 3-11 pm Tickets $25/day or $40/two-day pass Purchase online or at door Wine Tasting, Micro-brewery and Live Jazz Music For more information 308-237-3114 www.winejazzfest.org SAVE THE DATE! Must be 21 www.towncountrybank.net 6005 2nd Ave. West, Kearney 308-234-6525 Pleasanton 308-338-2391 Litchfield 308-446-2522 Ravenna 308-452-3225 Go Green! Save paper and clutter with e-mailed bank statements Cindy Habe Ms. Victoria Crow, a student at Kearney High School, was awarded a Hagan Scholarship to attend Colorado State University. The Hagan Scholarships vary up to $5,000 per semester and are renewable for up to seven additional consecutive semesters if the renewal criteria are met. The purpose of the Hagan Scholarship is to provide each scholarship recipient with the opportunity to obtain a four-year college education and graduate debt free. www.hsfmo.org Hagan Scholarship Recipient THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy in the morning...then partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and isolated thun- derstorms in the afternoon. North winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. At night: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog. North winds around 10 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds around 10 mph. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Cooler. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 60s. SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUN- DAY: Mostly clear. Lows around 40. Highs in the upper 60s. SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT: Clear...warmer. Highs around 80. Lows in the upper 50s. TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid-80s. A LOOK AHEAD TUESDAY Temperatures and precipitation as recorded by an automated station in the 24-hour period from mid- night yesterday to midnight today. High ..................................................66 Low....................................................50 Precipitation ..................0.07 inches Precip. year-to-date....8.95 inches The state high was 76 degrees at Chadron and Tekamah. The state low was 39 degrees at several locations. ON THIS DATE High/low a year ago.............70/41 Record high .......................97/1934 Record low ........................30/1923 Normal precip. ............5.89 inches CORRECTIONS If you see anything inaccurate in the Kearney Hub, call the newsroom at 237-2152 or 800-950-6113. Highs in mid- 60sLows in mid- 40s Thursday sunrise.............6:27 a.m. Thursday sunset..............8:43 p.m. Follow the Kearney Hub at Facebook.com/kearneyhub Follow the Kearney Hub at Twitter.com/kearneyhub ➠ DOWN 2.52 to 15,053.68 at 10 a.m. DOW JONES REGIONAL STOCKS 10 a.m. quotations today provided by EEddwwaarrddJJoonneess,, KKeeaarrnneeyy NNeeww YYoorrkk SSttoocckk EExxcchhaannggee FFiirrmm................................................................................................................................LLaasstt ..........CChhaannggee Alcatel-Lucent Tech....................... 1.49..........+0.05 American Express Co............... 70.17............-0.07 Ameriprise Fin.................................. 77.06 ...........-0.29 Apple Comp Inc......................... 463.50..........+4.84 AT&T........................................................ 37.60 .........+0.08 Becton Dickinsn............................. 97.33 ...........-0.14 Berkshire CL A................ 165101.33...+411.33 Berkshire CL B .......................... 110.05..........+0.15 Blackstone......................................... 22.52..........+0.31 Buckle Inc .......................................... 49.80..........+0.05 Cabelas................................................. 66.71 ...........-1.22 Caseys General ............................. 59.67..........+0.67 Clarcor Inc.......................................... 52.82..........+0.22 Cisco Systems................................ 20.62..........+0.25 Coca Cola........................................... 42.24...........-0.46 Conagra................................................ 35.61 ...........-0.14 Deere & Co....................................... 92.19 .........+0.46 DuPont Co ......................................... 54.59...........-0.06 Duke Energy..................................... 73.10...........-0.60 Eaton ..................................................... 63.83..........+0.37 Ford Motor Co................................. 14.20..........+0.01 Frontier Communications.......... 4.04..........+0.07 General Elec Co............................ 22.85..........+0.17 General Motors .............................. 31.97..........+0.32 Google................................................ 872.55......+15.32 H&R Block Inc................................. 27.60...........-0.36 Hastings Entertainment Inc .... 2.57 ...........-0.03 Hillshire Brands............................. 35.26..........+0.18 Home Depot Inc............................ 75.30..........+0.23 Intel Corp ............................................ 24.09...........-0.06 IBM....................................................... 204.18..........+1.50 J C Penney Co................................ 17.41..........+1.01 Johnson&Johnson....................... 85.13...........-0.40 Level 3 Comm ................................ 23.64..........+0.43 Molson Coors.................................. 50.53 ...........-0.19 Monsanto.......................................... 107.77...........-0.09 Pepsico Inc........................................ 82.98 ...........-0.35 Pfizer Inc.............................................. 28.83..........+0.04 Rockwell Intl..................................... 88.21 .........+0.30 Saks Inc................................................ 11.81..........+0.14 Sears Holding................................. 52.96..........+0.51 Surmodics........................................... 25.09...........-1.80 Target ..................................................... 69.95...........-0.60 Union Pacific................................ 153.61 ...........-0.11 United Parcel................................... 88.40 ...........-0.26 Verizon................................................... 52.88 ...........-0.04 VM Ware .............................................. 76.92 .........+0.40 Wal-Mart ............................................... 77.80 ...........-0.56 Walt Disney....................................... 64.86 ...........-1.21 Wells Fargo & Co......................... 38.52..........+0.41 West Co................................................ 64.35 ...........-0.56 YRC Worldwide.............................. 13.71 ...........-0.58 REGIONAL GRAINS 1100 aa..mm.. ggrraaiinn pprriicceess ttooddaayy CCOORRNN KAAPA, Elm Creek......................... 6.79...............-.06 CHS Agri, Elm Creek.................... 6.72...............-.06 CHS Agri, Bertrand........................ 6.64...............-.05 Gavilon, Lexington........................... 6.90...............-.05 KAAPA Ethanol................................. 6.84...............-.06 MMIILLOO CHS Agri, Holdrege ................. 10.57...............-.06 KAAPA Ethanol ............................. 11.52...............-.05 SSOOYYBBEEAANNSS KAAPA, Elm Creek..................... 14.28.............+.10 CHS Agri, Elm Creek................ 14.28.............+.11 CHS Agri, Bertrand.................... 14.13.............+.11 Gavilon, Lexington....................... 14.05.............+.08 WWHHEEAATT CHS Agri, Elm Creek.................... 7.20...............-.05 CHS Agri, Bertrand......................... 7.20...............-.05 Gavilon, Lexington............................ 7.18...............-.05 WALL STREET Stocks were little changed in early trading, keeping the Dow Jones industrial average above 15,000 a day after it closed above the landmark level for the first time. Markets have rallied this year, bolstered by encouraging econom- ic data, record corporate earnings and ongoing support from central banks. So far, stocks have defied expectations that a sell-off would follow the spring surge. Internet company AOL plunged $4.39, or 10.7 percent, to $36.97 after the company reported earn- ings that fell short of the forecasts of Wall Street analysts who follow the stock. Subscription revenue fell 9 percent. pound weights over his head. Assistant Attorney General Sandra Allen, the prosecutor, asked Rinehart why she didn’t stop or speak up about the pun- ishment. Rinehart replied, her voice cracking with emotion, “ ’Cause I was scared.” Rinehart broke down in tears several times during her testimo- ny, particularly when she was describing the night of Joseph’s death on April 30. When Allen produced photos of the toddler’s bruised body for the jury to view, Rinehart covered her eyes with her hand and sobbed. Alleged abuse Rinehart and her husband, Joseph Rinehart Sr., moved to Naponee in March 2011. When they couldn’t buy a house, the Rineharts moved in to Peter and Nancy Draper’s three-bed- room mobile home. Joseph Sr., and Peter Draper “tolerated” each other, Rinehart said, but didn’t get along. Joseph Sr. was in charge of the discipline before Draper asked him to leave that summer. Joseph Sr. didn’t have any more contact with their children after that, although he filed for full custody for them during sep- aration proceedings. When Rine- hart was served with the custody papers, she said Draper reacted with “anger and frustration.” Rinehart recalled her father pushing her on to the floor and yelling at her before grabbing her by the throat and holding her up against the door in the kitchen. It was then, she said, that Draper said he could kill her. During his cross-examination Brewster asked Rinehart about her military training. Rinehart said she was an ammunition spe- cialist and trained in advanced combat. Outside the presence of the jury, Allen argued the jury should be able to hear the infor- mation about Rinehart’s military career, arguing that as a soldier Rinehart should’ve been able protect herself against her father. Judge Stephen Illingworth allowed the testimony to be entered on the record, but cau- tioned the jury when they returned to use Rinehart’s testi- mony of the alleged assault for limited purposes in their delib- eration. Rinehart also described inci- dents where her father pun- ished Joseph in the months leading up to his death. In one instance, Draper shoved the boy down, and the toddler hit his head on the kitchen’s linoleum floor. Draper then made the boy get back up and Draper pushed him down again. The next day, Joseph’s head was swollen and his eyes were swollen shut and black. Rine- hart said her father told her to keep Joseph at home and not take him to the doctor because he did not want a visit from the state Department of Health and Human Services. Rinehart said Draper would also grab Joseph by the arm and pull on him, although she never saw her father hit, punch, kick or slap the boy. Draper suggested Joseph sleep in the bedroom closet because he was getting up at night and play- ing. If the boy was crying for any reason, Rinehart said, he was made to go stand in the cor- ner until he stopped. “No crying was allowed,” she said. “We weren’t allowed to show any kind of emotion.” Brewster asked Rinehart how Draper could hear the children crying if he wasn’t looking at them. Draper is hearing impaired and reads lips to communicate. In later testimony, Rinehart said she would catch her father reacting to sounds happening behind him. April 30, 2012 On April 25, 2012, Joseph began to cry at the dinner table and Draper took him to the chil- dren’s bedroom to be punished. Rinehart said she heard her son whining from the kitchen and went to see what was going on. She found her father kneeling on Joseph’s stomach, applying pressure and trying to get the boy to say, “Yes, sir.” When she asked Draper why he was doing it, he demonstrated it on her. A few days later, Joseph began to vomit and couldn’t keep any food down. During dinner on April 30, Joseph vomited once more, and Rinehart became alarmed when she noticed what appeared to be blood. Draper wanted to keep Joseph out of the hospital, but when Rinehart refused, he told her to make sure he was wearing a shirt and long pants so doctors would- n’t notice bruises on his legs. Rinehart and Nancy Draper drove the boy to the Franklin County Hospital at 6:06 p.m. Joseph was treated by regis- tered nurse Tonda Mattison and Dr. Dan Mazour, both who tes- tified Tuesday. Mattison said Joseph was lethargic, but alert, when he was brought in. She said she noticed bruises on his arms and that he wasn’t crying. She and Mazour said he didn’t make any com- plaints when they touched his abdomen, and that nothing unusual appeared in X-rays. Neither Mattison nor Mazour said they saw any reason to contact the authorities about the child. Joseph was given a supposi- tory and an ice pop for dehy- dration, and Rinehart was directed to give him small doses of mineral oil. Rinehart said she didn’t tell medical staff about the incident on April 25 because she feared it “getting back” to her father. She would not relate that story to anyone until her third interview with investigators, after her arrest May 2, 2012. On the way home to Naponee, Rinehart noticed Joseph breath- ing heavily and that he wouldn’t focus on her. When they arrived home, Nancy took Joseph into the house and put him on the kitchen counter, where he went into a seizure moments later. Joseph lost consciousness and Draper, after performing CPR, suggested the family return to the hospital. Rinehart, Nancy Draper and Joseph arrived back at the Franklin emergency room at 7:55 p.m. Mattison said the boy appeared “limp, dusky, pale” and that there were no signs of life when he was carried into the emergency room. Mattison and Mazour performed CPR on Joseph for 45 minutes until he was declared dead. “(Mazour told me) my son had already died,” Rinehart said through tears. She picked his body up and tried to leave the hospital with him. “I want- ed to take him outside. I didn’t want to hold him in the E.R.” Rinehart tried to decline an autopsy, saying she wanted her son’s body to be “left alone.” Mattison said after arriving at the hospital Peter Draper held Joseph’s body and cried. A post-mortem CT scan revealed that Joseph had sus- tained a linear fracture on the back of his skull and right pelvis fracture within two weeks of his death, and revealed two healed rib fractures. There was also free air in his abdomen, which is “sus- picious of bowel perforation,” Dr. David Kiple of Omaha said. Draper’s trial continued this morning. email to: jessica.kokesh@kearneyhub.com CONTINUED FROM 1A DDRRAAPPEERR TTRRIIAALL:: Rinehart tried to decline autopsy, saying she wanted her son’s body ‘left alone’ OTHERS CHARGED Laura Rinehart and her mother, Nancy Draper, 48, are charged in Franklin County District Court with intentional child abuse resulting in death. However, during Tuesday’s trial, attorneys in the case said in exchange for her testi- mony against her parents, Rinehart’s charges will be reduced from a Class I felony child abuse to a Class II felony attempted child abuse. CONTINUED FROM 1A SSTTAAMMPP OOUUTT HHUUNNGGEERR:: Eighty to 100 families visit the pantry each week ““TThhee mmoorree we can empower these pantries by stocking their shelves, the more people they will be able to help.” Lisa Reese Parish LOTTERIES 2BY2: Numbers drawn Tuesday were red 12-24, white 4-9. MEGA MILLIONS: 01-06-13-20- 51, Mega Ball: 31. Estimated jackpot: $139 million. Megaplier 4. MYDAY: month 10, day 6, year 19. PICK 3: 4-6-1. PICK 5: 02-05-10-21-30. Estimat- ed jackpot: $62,000. POWERBALL: Estimated jackpot: $222 million. 31 detained in $50M Belgium diamond heist BRUSSELS (AP) — Police today claimed a major break- through in their investigation of a spectacular $50 million diamond heist, detaining 31 people in a three-nation sweep some three months after rob- bers pulled off the theft with clockwork precision at Brus- sels Airport. A Frenchman who is believed to have been one of the actual robbers was detained in France, while six people were detained in Switzerland and 24 in Belgium. What’s more, police say they have proof that diamonds found in Switzerland were part of the cache that was spirited away in the brazen Feb. 18 robbery that ranks among the biggest diamond heists of recent times. “In Switzerland, we have found diamonds that we can already say are coming from the heist, and in Belgium large amounts of money have been found. And the investi- gation is still ongoing,” said Jean-Marc Meilleur, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office. Meilleur was scant on detail, yielding no clues how police got on the trail of the suspects. Authorities were expected to announce later today how many of the detainees would be charged and arrested. It was the first breakthrough in a robbery that many had started comparing to an “Ocean’s Eleven”-type Holly- wood script for its clinically clean execution. Runner’s Evaluation Jennifer McBride, MPT Please call to set up appointment. 2810 W. 35th Street, Lower Level • Kearney • (308) 237-7388 The runner’s clinic includes: A one-hour biomechanical evaluation with recommendations customized to your specific running style • Multiple view video analysis • Assessment of flexibility, functional strength and balance • Running shoe exam and recommendations • Individualized exercise program
- 3. $1 Deaths 6A Jerry Carbaugh...................Holdrege L. Gail Farr ...............................Kearney Marilyn Petersen ..........North Platte Stella Randall..........................Gibbon Daniela Rodriguez...............Kearney Clifford Sall .............................Kearney Marvin Walker ........................Kearney Carolyn Walker-Luna............Omaha Vernon White..........................Kearney $1 • As low as 44 cents with home delivery THURSDAY, May 9, 2013 www.kearneyhub.com • 125th year, 170th issue Kidnapped women endured lonely lives Suspect makes first court appearance today. 5A Couple brings art to life Pettigrews craft what they see in the world. Bravo Doctors break ground By MARY JANE SKALA Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — Physicians and investors ceremoniously kicked off construction Wednesday on a 48,000- square-foot medical office building in southwest Kearney. The structure is being built north of the 60,000-square-foot Kearney Regional Medical Center at 804 22nd Ave., just west of Yanney Heritage Park, and soon will be occupied by a variety of physicians, including the 19 physicians of Platte Val- ley Medical Group and spine surgeon Dr. David Benavides. Dr. Ronald Dobesh, PVMG president, said to the ground- breaking crowd of about 100 people that PVMG had once owned its clinic building on Avenue A before moving to offices it now leases at Good Samaritan Hospital. He said the lease is expiring. “We then had the opportuni- ty to come here, with lots of land and space for a parking lot,” Dobesh said. BD Construction, Inc. of Kearney is the contractor for the medical office building, while Hutton Construction of Wichita, Kan., remains the general contractor for the $25 million Kearney Regional Medical Center, which has been under construction for almost two years. Dr. Scott Smith, an internal medicine specialist at PVMG, KHS SHOOTS FORWARD Rick Tucker, Kearney Hub KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL’S Damien Austen (11) heads the ball toward the goal as Millard West’s Lan- don Sibole (10) defends and KHS’s Cole Jones (21) and Adam Chally (24) try to get in on the play. KHS defeated Millard West Wednesday in the first round of the Class A State soccer tournament. For more on the game, turn to Sports in Section B. One step at a time CHICAGO (AP) — When Michael Gore stands, it’s a triumph of science and engi- neering. Eleven years ago, Gore was para- lyzed from the waist down in a workplace accident, yet he rises from his wheelchair to his full 6-foot-2-inches and walks across the room with help from a lightweight wearable robot. This version, called Indego, is among several competing products being used and tested in U.S. rehab hospitals that hold promise not only for people such as Gore with spinal injuries, but also those recovering from strokes or afflicted with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. Still at least a year away from the market, the 27-pound Indego is the lightest of the powered exoskeletons. It snaps together from pieces that fit into a backpack. The goal is for the user to be able to carry it on a wheelchair, put it together, strap it on and walk independ- ently. None of the products, including the Indego, are yet approved by federal regulators for personal use, meaning they must be used under the supervision of a physical therapist. Gore, 42, of Whiteville, N.C., demon- strated the device this week at the American Spinal Injury Association meeting in Chica- go, successfully negotiating a noisy, crowd- ed hallway of medical professionals and people with spinal injuries in wheelchairs. Wife refuses to testify at child abuse trial By JESSICA KOKESH Hub Regional Editor HASTINGS — Nancy Draper invoked her Fifth Amendment right and refused to testi- fy at her hus- band’s trial Wednesday in Adams County District Court but was held in contempt of court anyway. Despite being given immunity for her testimony, Draper, 48, of Naponee cited her right to not incriminate herself by testifying against her husband, Peter Draper, 48, of Naponee. He is on trial this week for the April 2012 death of the couple’s grandson, Joseph Rinehart Jr., 2, and faces one count of felony child abuse resulting in death and one count of child abuse. Nancy Draper faces one count of felony child abuse resulting in Rinehart’s death. She invoked her right under the advice of her attorney, Don Theobald of Red Cloud. Judge Stephen Illingworth offered the woman immunity for her testimony, but she Nancy Draper Peter Draper DRAPER TRIAL, PAGE 2A KHS named one of best high schools in U.S. By SARA GIBONEY Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — Kearney High School was named to Newsweek’s Best High Schools in the nation. The ranking highlights the best 2,000 public high schools in the nation — those that have proven to be the most effective in turning out col- lege-ready graduates. “It’s another affir- mation of the good things that we’re doing at Kearney High,” KHS Principal Jay Dostal said. “It provides us an oppor- tunity to measure our- selves against some of the greatest schools in the country. It gives us an opportunity for even more growth.” The list is based on six components — graduation rate, col- lege acceptance rate, advanced placement tests taken per stu- dent, average SAT/ACT scores, average advance placement scores and the percent of students enrolled in at least one advanced placement course. KHS ranked 1,849 among the top 2,000 schools across the nation. “Every year, I see those lists and I just kind of glance through them hoping to see our name somewhere. This year, getting advance notice that we are in that upper echelon gives us a sense of pride as a district and, I hope, as a communi- ty,” said Superintendent Brian Maher. Maher said the honor confirms that the aca- demic rigor at KHS is at an elite level. “It’s based on solid academic achievement by our students,” Maher said. “I’m thrilled to be in a MICHAEL GORE, who is paralyzed from a spinal injury, walks with the use of the Indego wearable robot under the supervision of phys- ical therapist Clare Hartigan Monday during a meet- ing of the American Spinal Injury Associ- ation at a down- town hotel in Chicago. Associated Press Michael Gore Mike Konz, Kearney Hub A CROWD OF about 100 people heard about plans for a $9 mil- lion medical office building and looked inside the $25 million Kearney Regional Medical Center during a groundbreaking Wednesday in southwest Kearney. The facilities total more than 110,000 square feet and are expected to open in 2014. Kearney ranked 1,849 in top 2,000 schools across nation TOP SCHOOL, PAGE 2A ““EEvveerryy yyeeaarr,, I see those lists and I just kind of glance through them hoping to see our name somewhere. This year, getting advance notice that we are in that upper echelon gives us a sense of pride as a district and, I hope, as a community.” Superintendent Brian Maher Medical office work begins on grounds of hospital DOCTORS, PAGE 6A Agreement would suspend Harlan Dam water releases LINCOLN — A tentative agreement has been reached between the Nebraska Depart- ment of Natural Resources and the Kansas Bostwick Irri- gation District to end releases of water from Harlan County Reservoir that began May 1. In a press release this morn- ing, DNR said the irrigation officials will make a commit- ment that their use of the water won’t harm Nebraska’s efforts to comply with the Republican River Compact. The releases down the Republican River were expected to last 15 days and total 20,000 acre-feet. Earlier negotiations had failed to produce a plan that would allow the water to be saved in Harlan County Lake for later use by Kansas irriga- tors, even into 2014 or 2015. DNR officials had said Kansas would not agree to hold Nebraska harmless for any 2013 shortfall based on strict compact accounting. Kansas irrigators don’t need HARLAN DAM, PAGE 6A
- 4. repeatedly refused to answer state attorney Matt Lierman’s questions. Lierman asked about Nancy Draper’s police interview and a written statement in which she told investigators she had seen her husband kick Joseph down the hallway of their home. Peter Draper’s attor- ney, Charlie Brewster, objected to Lierman’s line of questioning. “This is the state’s way of getting information in front of the jury,” Brewster said. “Obvi- ously, this witness does not want to testify.” Illingworth allowed Lier- man’s questions to remain on the record. Once Draper was granted immunity she didn’t need to invoke her Fifth Amendment right because she couldn’t incriminate herself. Illingworth then held her in contempt of court and removed her from the courtroom. Before Nancy Draper took the stand, the jury heard from five other witnesses Wednesday. Dr. Matthias Okoye, a foren- sic pathologist with the Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences, testified about the autopsy he performed May 2, 2012, on Joseph. Okoye said Joseph’s cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma on the head, trunk and extremities, and the manner of death was homicide. During cross-examination, Brewster asked if it could be determined if a homicide was unintentional. “I will say its homicide,” Okoye said. “In forensic sci- ences, we don’t do semantics.” The state showed the jury photos of Joseph’s autopsy, including several photos of bruises around his knees. Okoye said the oval shape of the bruises, as well as the spac- ing, indicated that it was con- sistent with being caused by a grip. Further investigation into the bruises revealed that they were deep and caused recently before the boy’s death. Brewster asked Okoye if there was any way he could determine who was gripping Joseph. “No way. I wasn’t there, sir,” Okoye said. Internally, Okoye said, Joseph suffered a 2½-inch skull fracture along the back of his head and that there had been severe swelling of his brain. There was also a quart of blood in his abdomen, where there was a rupture in the small intestine and fracture of the pelvic bone. Assistant Attorney General Sandra Allen asked Okoye if an adult kneeling on a child could cause the injuries, and Okoye said they could have. Earlier in the day, the jury heard from Samantha Bradley, who supervises early childhood development programs at Phelps Memorial Health Cen- ter in Holdrege. Bradley con- tacted Child Protective Ser- vices after a second visit to the Draper home in December 2011, when she noticed a large bruise on Joseph’s face. “I brought it up several times (with Laura Rinehart),” Bradley said. “She said she didn’t know and that he had started acting reckless like his brother.” Bradley first visited the Drap- er home in Naponee before Thanksgiving 2011. She met Peter and Nancy Draper, Laura Rinehart and Rinehart’s four children, who were all younger than age 5 at the time. Bradley was there to discuss voluntary childhood development pro- grams for Rinehart’s oldest son. During her first visit, she noticed that the oldest son was standing in time out in the cor- ner and remained that way for at least 45 minutes. Peter Draper was not present during the time out and was outside the home throughout most of her visit. “I mentioned that it seemed inappropriate to me that a 2- year-old would be in time out for 45 minutes,” she said. “He was completely still. He didn’t make a sound.” In addition to noticing Joseph’s bruise on the second visit, Bradley said she also noticed the older Rinehart boy’s arm was red and swollen, and he was having difficulty moving. She recommended Rinehart take him to the doctor immediately. Bradley and her colleagues made another, unannounced visit to the Draper home in December 2011. Peter Draper met them outside the house. Bradley wit- nessed an argument between her colleague and Draper before he told them to leave. “I heard him (Draper) say, ‘I know it was that (expletive) who must’ve called; she can’t even look me in the eye,’” Bradley said, adding that Drap- er said a case worker and police officer showed up at the house. Dr. Linda Mazour of Franklin County Memorial Hospital said she contacted CPS after she viewed the older Rinehart boy’s collarbone, which had been fractured in October. She said she was unsure if the calcification for- mations on the boy’s arms were from a bone disease or from being grabbed by the arms. Mazour also was questioned about Draper’s medical history, including his multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Nebraska State Patrol investi- gators testified Wednesday morning that Draper had been cooperative and welcomed them into the home the night of Joseph’s death. State Patrol Sgt. Jeromy McCoy said the home was well kept and said he was not given the impression that the family was hiding something. The trial resumed at 10 a.m. today with the state’s last wit- ness. email to: jessica.kokesh@kearneyhub.com Page 2A • Kearney Hub • Thursday, May 9, 2013 STEINBRINKLANDSCAPING & GREENHOUSES 2010 30th Avenue • Kearney • (308)234-6670 KK ee aa rr nn ee yy ’’ ss LL aa nn dd ss cc aa pp ii nn gg && GG aa rr dd ee nn ii nn gg HH ee aa dd qq uu aa rr tt ee rr ss !!KK ee aa rr nn ee yy ’’ ss LL aa nn dd ss cc aa pp ii nn gg && GG aa rr dd ee nn ii nn gg HH ee aa dd qq uu aa rr tt ee rr ss !! • Geraniums • Annual Packs • Proven Winners • Wave Petunias • Hanging Baskets • Flowering Trees • Perennials & Shrubs • Roses & Clematis Vines*Custom orders & landscapes not included All Greenhouse & Nursery Plants May 6-12th, 2013 10% OFF Mon-Sat 9-6 Sun 1-5 Steinbrink’s 17th Annual Mother’s Day Sale!!! Call us for all your home building & remodeling needs. FosterL U M B E R 1813 Central, Kearney, 308-237-2155 • 301 W. Hwy 30, Overton, 308-987-2530 $ 100 OFFAny Regular Priced Grill DANIEL BOONE $ 759 – Regular price NOW! $ 659 JIM BOWIE $ 999 – Regular price NOW! $ 899 Now – May 12th 2013 GREEN MOUNTAIN Manufacturing Spring Special! KearneyEaglesClub 17West24thStreet,Kearney • 308-234-2216 Admission is $5.00 Food served from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm SATURDAY, MAY 11TH AT 7:30 PM FOOTE East Highway 30, Kearney • 308-234-3770 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 6 am-12 am; Sunday 7 am-11:30 pm LOWEST LEGAL PRICE ON CAMELS THIS WEEK’S SPECIALS at Convenience Plaza Coors Light 24 pk Cans........ $ 15.99 Miller High Life & High Life Light 30 pk Cans........ $ 14.99 Natty Light 30 pk Cans........ $ 12.99 FRIDAY: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming most- ly sunny. Patchy fog in the morn- ing. North winds around 10 mph. At night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of sprin- kles. Northwest winds around 10 mph. SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Cooler. Highs in the lower 60s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. At night: Mostly clear. Slight chance of sprinkles. Lows around 40. SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 60s. Lows in the upper 40s. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT: Clear...warmer. Highs in the lower 80s. Lows in the upper 50s. TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid-80s. At night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. A LOOK AHEAD WEDNESDAY Temperatures and precipitation as recorded by an automated station in the 24-hour period from mid- night yesterday to midnight today. High...................................................70 Low....................................................52 Precipitation..................0.22 inches Precip. year-to-date....9.17 inches The state high was 76 degrees at McCook, Ord and Scottsbluff. The state low was 39 degrees at Chadron, Alliance and Sidney. ON THIS DATE High/low a year ago.............73/37 Record high .......................93/1911 Record low .........................30/1997 Normal precip. .............6.00 inches CORRECTIONS If you see anything inaccurate in the Kearney Hub, call the newsroom at 237-2152 or 800-950-6113. Highs in lower 70sLows in mid- 40s Friday sunrise...................6:26 a.m. Friday sunset....................8:44 p.m. Follow the Kearney Hub at Facebook.com/kearneyhub Follow the Kearney Hub at Twitter.com/kearneyhub ➠ DOWN 25.65 to 15,079.47 at 10 a.m. DOW JONES REGIONAL STOCKS 10 a.m. quotations today provided by EEddwwaarrddJJoonneess,, KKeeaarrnneeyy NNeeww YYoorrkk SSttoocckk EExxcchhaannggee FFiirrmm................................................................................................................................LLaasstt ..........CChhaannggee Alcatel-Lucent Tech....................... 1.50..........+0.02 American Express Co............... 70.28 ...........-0.03 Ameriprise Fin.................................. 76.74 ...........-0.25 Apple Comp Inc................................. 459............-1.79 AT&T........................................................ 37.26............-0.57 Becton Dickinsn............................. 97.51............-0.07 Berkshire CL A................ 166348.98 ......+76.21 Berkshire CL B.......................... 110.88 ...........-0.05 Blackstone......................................... 22.24 ...........-0.21 Buckle Inc........................................... 51.02..........+0.71 Cabelas................................................. 66.95..........+0.26 Caseys General............................. 58.69............-0.72 Clarcor Inc.......................................... 53.30..........+0.15 Cisco Systems................................ 20.75..........+0.03 Coca Cola........................................... 42.30 ...........-0.16 Conagra................................................ 35.54..........+0.01 Deere & Co....................................... 92.23 ...........-0.12 DuPont Co ......................................... 54.84..........+0.14 Duke Energy..................................... 72.67 ...........-0.24 Eaton ..................................................... 64.75..........+0.19 Ford 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49.30...........-0.40 Monsanto.......................................... 107.52............-0.77 Pepsico Inc........................................ 83.17...........-0.08 Pfizer Inc.............................................. 28.47 ...........-0.26 Rockwell Intl..................................... 88.49..........+0.26 Saks Inc................................................ 11.70...........-0.08 Sears Holding................................. 53.38..........+0.75 Surmodics........................................... 24.41 ...........-0.19 Target..................................................... 69.86 .........+0.06 Union Pacific ................................ 154.67............-0.71 United Parcel................................... 88.55..........+0.14 Verizon................................................... 52.72...........-0.39 VM Ware.............................................. 75.52 ...........-1.42 Wal-Mart............................................... 78.43..........+0.18 Walt Disney....................................... 66.21..........+0.22 Wells Fargo & Co......................... 38.25 ...........-0.20 West Co................................................ 65.25..........+0.15 YRC Worldwide.............................. 13.93.....................— REGIONAL GRAINS 1100 aa..mm.. ggrraaiinn pprriicceess ttooddaayy CCOORRNN KAAPA, Elm Creek ........................ 6.86.............+.08 CHS Agri, Elm Creek.................... 6.78.............+.07 CHS Agri, Bertrand........................ 6.71.............+.08 Gavilon, Lexington........................... 6.84.............+.04 KAAPA Ethanol................................. 6.92.............+.07 MMIILLOO CHS Agri, Holdrege ................. 10.70.............+.08 KAAPA Ethanol ............................. 11.64.............+.07 SSOOYYBBEEAANNSS KAAPA, Elm Creek..................... 14.42.............+.16 CHS Agri, Elm Creek................ 14.41.............+.15 CHS Agri, Bertrand.................... 14.27.............+.16 Gavilon, Lexington....................... 14.19.............+.15 WWHHEEAATT CHS Agri, Elm Creek.................... 7.17.............+.12 CHS Agri, Bertrand ........................ 7.40.............+.13 Gavilon, Lexington ........................... 7.40.............+.14 WALL STREET The stock market pulled back early today after surging to record levels. Even a decline in the number of Americans applying for unemploy- ment benefits failed to boost stock prices in early trading. Unemployment claims dropped by 4,000 last week to 323,000, a five- year low, the Labor department said Thursday. The decline signals fewer layoffs and possibly more hiring. Ris- ing corporate earnings, another sup- port for the stock market, were also in focus. Tesla Motors soared $10.84, or 19 percent, to $66.54, after the electric car maker posted its first quarterly net profit since it was founded a decade ago. CONTINUED FROM 1A DDRRAAPPEERR TTRRIIAALL:: On Bradley’s first visit, she noticed oldest son stood in time out for 45 minutes OTHERS CHARGED Laura Rinehart and her mother, Nancy Draper, 48, are charged in Franklin County District Court with intentional child abuse resulting in death. However, during Tuesday’s trial, attorneys in the case said in exchange for her testi- mony against her parents, Rinehart’s charges will be reduced from a Class I felony child abuse to a Class II felony attempted child abuse. Laura Rinehart school district that receives an honor like this.” The other Nebraska schools on the list are Millard West High School, Millard North High School and Millard South High School, all in Omaha, and Beatrice High School. “What sets us apart from a lot of other schools is phenomenal students, phenomenal parents who support education, a phe- nomenal community that sup- ports the work that we do and wonderful staff that just continue to promote our students and get them to do the best that they pos- sibly can do,” Dostal said. “What it boils down to is we’ve got a community that supports educa- tion, and when you have that a lot of good things can happen.” The graduation rate at KHS is 84 percent. Seventy three percent of students are accept- ed to college. The average SAT score is 1,878, and the average ACT score is 23.4. “I don’t want to put all of my eggs in one basket here and say that this is the end-all-be- all. It’s another piece of data that affirms that we are doing the appropriate things up here, and we are preparing our stu- dents for life beyond high school,” Dostal said. “It’s a tremendous feather in our cap, but we’re not going to rest on our laurels, and we’re going to continue to improve.” Dostal’s goal is for KHS to offer more advanced placement courses in the future. “The goal is to get better than 1,849 next year,” Dostal said. The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Bowling Green, Ky., is the top-rated school in the coun- try with a 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent of students being accepted to college. Other schools in the top 10 are International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High in Bar- tow, Fla., BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz., School of Sci- ence/Engineering Magnet High School in Dallas, The School for the Talented and Gifted Magnet High School in Dallas, the School for Advanced Studies in Miami, BASIS Tucson North in Tucson, Ariz., Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, Fla., and Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Fla. email to: sara.giboney@kearneyhub.com CONTINUED FROM 1A TTOOPP SSCCHHOOOOLL:: Graduation rate at KHS is 84 percent; average ACTscore is 23.4 Hub Classifieds Work
- 5. $1 Deaths 6A Joe Ann Dosek..................Oklahoma Lucille Miche .................Broken Bow Randall Nelson......................Kearney Maxine Schlientz..........North Platte Marvin Walker ........................Kearney Carolyn Walker-Luna............Omaha $1 • As low as 44 cents with home delivery FRIDAY, May 10, 2013 www.kearneyhub.com • 125th year, 171st issue Paulsen handles district ‘pretty good’ Cozad junior, other athletes going to state. Sports Tweet with author on parenting Also, mom-inspired chicken recipe. Inside Duo wants mini Mission Monday massive By SARA GIBONEY Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — When stu- dents and teachers enter the Smile Zone, they must walk through with a big smile. The Smile Zone is just one mission schools can incorpo- rate as part of Mission Mon- day, a program that aims to create a more positive school environment. Mission Monday was created by Sam Stecher, principal at Emerson Elementary School, and Mark Johnson, principal at Bryant Elementary School. “I’m a big believer in the idea that positive culture shifts don’t happen by accident,” Stech- er said. “You have to be pur- poseful, and you have to be inten- tional.” Stecher imple- mented Mission Monday at Kearney High School when he was dean of students. He believes that having daily positive interactions with stu- dents is the key to creating a positive atmosphere. The first Mission Monday was aimed at KHS teachers. Teachers were asked to intro- duce themselves to five stu- dents they didn’t know. That Mission Monday challenge was repeated once a month. “If you had half the teachers MISSION MONDAY, PAGE 2A ““TThhee iiddeeaa aass a classroom teacher is to create a family atmosphere with 25 kids. This was a way to create a family atmosphere with 250 kids.” Mark Johnson, principal at Bryant Elementary School Principals spreading positivity method to other states, hoping for global cultural effect Sam Stecher Draper says he has ‘no ‘idea’ how boy was hurt By JESSICA KOKESH Hub Regional Editor HASTINGS — If he’d seen or known how his grandson had suffered the injuries that led to his grandson’s death, Peter Draper said he would’ve contacted the police immediately. “I would have had Nancy (Draper) call the police department or I would have gone there myself,” Draper told the jury Thursday after- noon during testimony in Adams County Dis- trict Court. “I wouldn’t have hesitated, folks.” Draper, 48, of Naponee is on trial in the April 30, 2012, death of his 2- year-old grand- son, Joseph L. Rinehart Jr. He is charged with one count of child abuse resulting in Joseph’s death and one count of child abuse. Draper took the stand in his own defense Thursday and repeatedly denied that he had hurt his grandchildren in any manner. “No, never,” Draper said, when asked by his attorney if he ever kneeled on Joseph as a form of punishment. “Not once. No.” Draper’s daughter, Laura Rinehart, said in testimony Tuesday that her father was in charge of the discipline in their Naponee household and described several inci- dents of abuse, including a time when Draper allegedly kept pushing Joseph down so he would hit his head on the linoleum floor. Draper said he had no idea where those claims came from. “I have no idea what she’s talking about,” he said. “I never pushed none of those kids. I never even played with them that way.” Draper, who went deaf in 2006 and has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, had a real- time interpreter on hand to answer questions from his attorney, Charlie Brewster from Kear- ney. He read Brewster’s questions on a com- puter screen and answered shortly after. Draper can also read lips. Rinehart claimed that her father would make her children stand in time out for hours on end when they cried, but Draper said he couldn’t hear the children and wouldn’t know they were crying unless they were in front of him. Rinehart handled the discipline of the chil- dren, he said, and said that the two of them had several conversations about her discipline methods. “Criticized, no. She asked mine and Nancy’s opinion, but I don’t recall criticizing her,” she Slow corn planting ready to take off Lori Potter, Kearney Hub Warm and dry weather ahead Meals on Wheels on its last wheel By ADAM KONRUFF Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — The Meals on Wheels program in Kearney is in danger of a blowout. Janice Hankey, director of Nutri- tion Services at Good Samaritan Hospital, said the senior nutrition program is in jeopardy if an organ- ization cannot be found to take over the cost of delivering the meals. “As it is, we are barely covering half of our costs,” Hankey said. “If we could find a group or entity that would be willing to take care of delivery, we could continue to provide Meals on Wheels to the com- munity forever.” Good Samaritan is the only hos- pital in Nebraska and bordering states that coordinates such a pro- gram, Hankey said. She and Good Samaritan Nutrition Manager Glenda Parker oversee every aspect of the pro- gram. “We’re hoping to change the process, but until another group of volunteers shows interest in being involved with the program, we have to pay employees to deliver,” Parker said. Parker said there are laws that an outside organization must take over all aspects of delivery from sched- uling to driving before the hospital can stop funding deliveries. Any individuals wishing to volunteer currently must be hired as a paid employee. Interested organizations or groups can contact the Good Samaritan help desk at 865-7100 for more information. Parker said Meals for Wheels had volunteer drivers until that law about 15 years ago was passed and couldn’t let them go simply because it couldn’t afford to pay wages. “It wasn’t something where we could say ‘No volunteer, no meals,’” Parker said. Good Samari- Janice Hankey Glenda Parker EXPERT SAYS MAJOR FORCE CAUSED INJURIES THAT KILLED TODDLER PAGE 2A Taking the stand, he denies harming his grandchildren ““II hhaavvee nnoo idea what she’s talk- ing about. I never pushed none of those kids. I never even played with them that way.” Peter Draper ‘NO IDEA’ HOW BOY WAS HURT, PAGE 2A Good Samaritan provides food; it needs delivery drivers or program for seniors may end MEALS ON WHEELS, PAGE 6A ““TThheessee ppeeooppllee are lifesavers. They do so much more for me than just deliver meals.” Chris Gaspari of Kearney WOOD RIVER farmer Mark Gloe replaces the cover after checking the seed box at the end of his planter Tues- day afternoon. He continued planting corn in a field along Highway 30 between Wood River and Shelton but was stopped by rain about 30 minutes later. AFTER A DESPERATELY dry 2012, rain has been a welcomed sight in south-central Nebraska the past month. However, it has slowed corn planting in many areas. Mark Gloe has about two-thirds of his corn planted, but he had to park his tractor the past few days after being chased from this field between Wood River and Shelton by showers Tuesday afternoon. By LORI POTTER Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — Dark, heavy rain clouds pressed down on land between Highway 30 and the Platte River Tuesday afternoon, including the field Mark Gloe was planting to corn between Wood River and Shelton. A rain curtain filled the small space between land and clouds, increasing the urgency to get as many planting rounds finished as possible. The rain reached the field about 30 minutes later, Gloe said Thursday, dropping about 0.35 of an inch. It rained again Thursday afternoon. He said it wasn’t much moisture either time. But after a wet few weeks that have made fields too muddy to plant in almost all of Nebraska, it doesn’t take much rain to chase farmers from fields. Monday’s crop progress report from the U.S. Department of Agri- culture’s National Agricultural Sta- tistics Service said 14 percent of Nebraska’s corn had been planted, compared with 53 percent on aver- age and 70 percent last year. Gloe said he is about two-thirds done with corn planting and could finish in four days if he could get back into his fields. He said most of the people he’s talked to in his area are about half done. The rain and snow in the past PLANTING, PAGE 5A
- 6. doing that consistently, honest- ly, it became thousands of pos- itive interactions that would not have normally happened,” Stecher said. Mission Monday eventually expanded to include students and then parents. At the elementary level, Johnson implemented Mission Monday by creating challenges for students to create a positive school atmosphere. Some missions included looking kitchen staff in the eyes and thanking them after students received their lunches, keeping the area around their desks clean to help out the cus- todian or giving a high five to a student from another class- room. “The idea as a classroom teacher is to create a family atmosphere with 25 kids. This was a way to create a family atmosphere with 250 kids,” Johnson said. Bryant eventually imple- mented teacher and parent mis- sions. A mission for parents was to write a note of encouragement to their child and place it in his or her lunch box or backpack. Stecher said the missions translate to any age level. “These are interventions that work on people,” he said. “Height doesn’t really matter. Your delivery matters a little bit. I do the same kind of posi- tive interventions that make a kid’s day better with a junior that I do with a second-grader.” For example, giving a stu- dent a compliment gives stu- dents of all ages validation, he said. Johnson and Stecher have spoken to other schools in the district, in the state and throughout the country about Mission Monday. They have traveled to nearly 100 schools and conferences in Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Texas since 2001. Stecher sends out emails with information on how to implement Mission Monday in schools. He currently sends emails to schools in 11 states. This summer, Johnson and Stecher will travel to Las Vegas to speak about Mission Mon- day during the National Con- ference on School Discipline. They will also present at the Masters of Education Student Seminar at Bethel University in Nashville, Tenn., in November. Although Stecher hopes the idea of Mission Monday will eventually have a global effect, he added, “If all that happens is we become better educators — time well-spent.” Find Mission Monday on Facebook and on Twitter @mission_monday. For more information, go to www.missionmonday.com. email to: sara.giboney@kearneyhub.com CONTINUED FROM 1A MMIISSSSIIOONN MMOONNDDAAYY:: Method works on all age levels, parents, teachers use it, too Page 2A • Kearney Hub • Friday, May 10, 2013 Mother’s Day FLOWER SALES Friday & Saturday 10 AM-9 PM Sunday • 9 AM-9 PM LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHURCH 2901 Ave. I, Kearney or booth at Advanced Auto Parts 506 E. 25th St., Kearney or Call for Delivery 785-821-2371 Sportsman’s Restaurant Downtown Gibbon Reservations Accepted & Appreciated. Call 468-6411 Kids under 12 eat for $4.00 Give Mom A Choice! Saturday is Prime Rib Night 14oz Prime Rib & Salad Bar 2 for $25 Sunday is our Mother’s Day Buffets • 7am–11am: Breakfast Buffet w/fruit bar $5.95 • 11am–2pm: Prime Rib of Roast & Jumbo Shrimp $9.75 2100 Central Avenue • Kearney • 308-236-9422 • trucafekearney.com Mon–Wed:9to5 • Thu–Fri:9toClose, w/LIVE MUSIC 7–9 • Closed Saturday Find Unique Gifts for Mom, Created by Local Artists at 3907 6th Ave Kearney • 308-865-2767 Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5:00 • Sat. 8:30-Noon AnnetteMiller,M.D.AmyJPaysen,M.D. Walk-in clinic for acute illness provided by a team of our physicians and physicians assistants: Call to schedule an appointment! 865-2767 2109 CENTRAL AVE • DOWNTOWN KEARNEY • 308-236-5031 412 W. 18th, Kearney, NE 68847 • www.mountcarmelhome.org April Special Events Monday, April 29th 9:30 am – Bible Study 3:00 pm – Birthday Party Tuesday, April 30th Sun Catchers MOUNT CARMEL HOME & LITTLE SHEPHERDS KIDZ PLACE (308) 237-2287 Keens Memorial, Owned by Corpus Christi Carmelite Sister, Inc. Admission will be made without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. ➠ DOWN 8.54 to 15,074.08 at 10 a.m. DOW JONES REGIONAL STOCKS 10 a.m. quotations today provided by EEddwwaarrddJJoonneess,, KKeeaarrnneeyy NNeeww YYoorrkk SSttoocckk EExxcchhaannggee FFiirrmm................................................................................................................................LLaasstt ..........CChhaannggee Alcatel-Lucent Tech....................... 1.49.............+.02 American Express Co............... 69.78 ...........-0.43 Ameriprise Fin.................................. 77.07..........+0.53 Apple Comp Inc.......................... 451.75 ...........-5.02 AT&T........................................................ 37.44..........+0.11 Becton Dickinsn............................ 99.02..........+1.27 Berkshire CL A ........................ 166720...........+620 Berkshire CL B .......................... 111.15 .........+0.49 Blackstone......................................... 22.10..........+0.10 Buckle Inc........................................... 52.68 .........+1.36 Cabelas.................................................. 67.20 .........+0.66 Caseys General............................... 57.72..........+0.07 Clarcor Inc.......................................... 53.29..........+0.22 Cisco Systems................................ 20.94..........+0.11 Coca Cola........................................... 41.99 ...........-0.13 Conagra................................................ 35.04 ...........-0.01 Deere & Co....................................... 91.98 ...........-0.21 DuPont Co......................................... 55.38.....................— Duke Energy..................................... 71.83 ...........-0.22 Eaton ..................................................... 64.88..........+0.14 Ford Motor Co................................. 14.14...........-0.06 Frontier Communications.......... 4.18..........+0.05 General Elec Co............................ 22.66 ...........-0.12 General Motors.............................. 31.34 ...........-0.31 Google................................................. 877.58..........+6.10 H&R Block Inc................................. 27.50 ...........-0.03 Hastings Entertainment Inc.... 2.64..........+0.04 Hillshire Brands............................. 35.29..........+0.27 Home Depot Inc............................ 75.80...........-0.08 Intel Corp............................................. 24.44 .........+0.08 IBM....................................................... 203.55..........+0.31 J C Penney Co................................ 17.49..........+0.13 Johnson&Johnson....................... 85.52..........+0.37 Level 3 Comm ................................ 23.55............-0.07 Molson Coors.................................. 49.90..........+0.41 Monsanto.......................................... 107.77..........+0.31 Pepsico Inc........................................ 82.96..........+0.10 Pfizer Inc.............................................. 28.67..........+0.07 Rockwell Intl..................................... 88.10..........+0.15 Saks Inc ............................................... 11.86 .........+0.09 Sears Holding ................................. 53.64..........+0.65 Surmodics........................................... 26.10..........+0.41 Target ..................................................... 69.22 ...........-0.26 Union Pacific................................ 153.62 ...........-0.05 United Parcel................................... 88.51..........+0.28 Verizon................................................... 52.78..........+0.07 VM Ware .............................................. 76.44 .........+1.06 Wal-Mart............................................... 78.55..........+0.15 Walt Disney ........................................ 67.15 .........+0.48 Wells Fargo & Co.......................... 37.91..........+0.02 West Co................................................ 65.52..........+0.27 YRC Worldwide.............................. 14.65..........+0.58 REGIONAL GRAINS 1100 aa..mm.. ggrraaiinn pprriicceess ttooddaayy CCOORRNN KAAPA, Elm Creek......................... 6.81...............-.13 CHS Agri, Elm Creek.................... 6.76...............-.12 CHS Agri, Bertrand........................ 6.66...............-.13 Gavilon, Lexington........................... 6.85...............-.10 KAAPA Ethanol................................. 6.88...............-.12 MMIILLOO CHS Agri, Holdrege ................. 10.61...............-.13 KAAPA Ethanol ............................. 11.59...............-.12 SSOOYYBBEEAANNSS KAAPA, Elm Creek..................... 14.48.............+.05 CHS Agri, Elm Creek................ 14.49.............+.05 CHS Agri, Bertrand.................... 14.33.............+.04 Gavilon, Lexington....................... 14.27.............+.04 WWHHEEAATT CHS Agri, Elm Creek.................... 7.14...............-.10 CHS Agri, Bertrand......................... 7.33...............-.13 Gavilon, Lexington............................ 7.32...............-.12 WALL STREET Stock indexes are on track to post solid gains for the week. The Dow is up 0.7 percent for the week and 15 percent so far this year. Prices for commodities including crude oil and gold fell sharply as the dollar continued to strengthen against other currencies, especially the Japanese yen. Priceline.com and chip maker Nvidia both rose after reporting high- er earnings. Priceline jumped $29, or 3.9 percent, to $766.60 and Nvidia was up 44 cents, or 3.2 percent, to $14.35. Clothing store chain Gap rose after reporting higher sales in April and predicting first-quarter earn- ings that were higher than analysts expected. SATURDAY: Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. North winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Partly cloudy at night with a 20 per- cent chance of showers. East winds 10 mph. SUNDAY: Partly cloudy with a 20 per- cent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 60s. Southeast winds around 10 mph. Mostly clear at night. Lows in the upper 40s. MONDAY: Clear and warmer. Highs in the lower 80s. Lows in the upper 50s. TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Partly cloudy at night. Lows about 60. WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of show- ers and thunderstorms. Not as warm. Highs in the upper 70s. Partly cloudy at night. Lows in the mid-50s. THURSDAY: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. A LOOK AHEAD THURSDAY Temperatures and precipitation as recorded by an automated station in the 24-hour period from mid- night yesterday to midnight today. High ..................................................63 Low....................................................50 Precipitation..............................Trace Precip. year-to-date....9.17 inches The state high was 71 degrees at Chadron and Falls City. The state low was 39 degrees at Chadron, Alliance and Sidney. ON THIS DATE High/low a year ago ............88/52 Record high .......................97/2011 Record low .........................27/1981 Normal precip. .............6.11 inches CORRECTIONS If you see anything inaccurate in the Kearney Hub, call the newsroom at 237-2152 or 800-950-6113. High in mid- 60sLow in lower 40s Saturday sunrise..............6:25 a.m. Saturday sunset...............8:45 p.m. Follow the Kearney Hub at Facebook.com/kearneyhub Follow the Kearney Hub at Twitter.com/kearneyhub MORE ON MISSION MONDAY Find Mission Monday on Facebook and on Twitter @mission_monday. For more information, go to www.missionmonday.com. By JESSICA KOKESH Hub Regional Editor HASTINGS — Significant force had to be applied to cause the injuries to Joseph Rinehart Jr., a child abuse pedi- atrician testified Thursday. Peter Draper, 48, of Naponee is on trial in Hastings at Adams County District Court for Joseph’s 2012 death. He faces one count of felony child abuse resulting in death and one count of child abuse. Dr. Suzanne Haney of Pro- ject Harmony in Omaha was the state’s last witness. She was asked to consult on the case by the State Attorney General’s Office, and frequently lectures about head injuries and abusive injuries in children. Haney said blunt force trau- ma was likely to have caused the fracture on Joseph’s skull, but could not date the fracture or tell where the impact was against the skull. The state also showed an autopsy photo of the inside of Joseph’s scalp where a dark, circular bruise had been found. Haney said the bruise was con- sistent with a pattern injury, which is caused by the skull being struck by or striking an object rather than a flat sur- face. She could not say what the bruise was caused by. She said the bruise was close to the fracture and could possi- bly be connected to it. The autopsy also revealed that Joseph had a perforated bowel and fractured right pelvis when he died. Haney said both are uncommon injuries in a child. “A multistory fall, a head-on collision (could cause a pelvis fracture),” she said. “It would require more force than a fend- er bender to break.” Haney said that a perforated bowel is a surgical emergency and without treatment, is almost always fatal. A child with a bowel perforation would begin showing symptoms such as vomiting and refusing food and would gradually become sicker, pale and unresponsive. “Typically, it depends on the severity,” she said, of how long a perforation could take to kill a child. “The smaller the hole, the longer it’s going to take. (Joseph’s) was on the smaller side. It was not a gaping hole.” Upon reviewing Joseph and his older brother’s medical records, Haney said the broth- ers did not have a bone disease that she was familiar with. The two did have overgrowth of bone in the muscles of their upper arms and shoulders, which Haney said is often caused by constant trauma in that areas such as twisting or bending the arm back. “The muscle is going to become boney to become stronger,” she said. “It would have to be repeat trauma.” Haney said the older broth- er’s bone overgrowth began to improve after he was removed from the home. email to: jessica.kokesh@kearneyhub.com Doctor says severe force caused injuries that killed boy said. Draper described his rela- tionship with his daughter as “excellent” and said they were very close. “We always got along. We’d sit down and talk,” he said. “She’s always been a daddy’s girl, always.” During her testimony, Rine- hart said Draper assaulted her after she received divorce papers from her husband, Joseph Rinehart Sr., asking for custody of their four children. Draper said he was upset about the papers because he felt that Joseph Sr. did not deserve cus- tody, but Draper denied he assaulted his daughter. “I have never put my hands on Laura except for a spanking when she was little,” he said. “I never put my hands on either of my children.” Draper became emotional when describing the night of Joseph’s death, and said he didn’t believe it was real until he saw Nancy holding the boy’s body in the Franklin County Hospital emergency room. Joseph died from multi- ple blunt force traumas, includ- ing a skull fracture and a per- forated bowel. Rinehart said she saw her father kneeling on Joseph’s abdomen and applying pres- sure April 25, 2012, and that the toddler began to vomit a few days later. Draper did not recall this incident occurring. “I have no idea how this happened,” Draper said. “I did not see it, and I cannot hear it.” Draper’s testimony conclud- ed at 5 p.m. Thursday. He was to take the stand today for the state’s cross-examination. The defense called three other witnesses Thursday. Wendy Kemp of Kearney visited the Draper residence in Naponee on Dec. 1, 2011, after a call was placed to the Nebraska Child Abuse Hotline about bruises on Joseph’s face and his brother’s swollen arm. Kemp said she saw nothing was out of the ordinary during that visit. Earlier in the day, Joseph’s mother had no had explanation for Joseph’s bruise, but when Kemp asked, she said it came from when the boy fell outside and hit his head on the sidewalk. Kemp said she did not have any immediate concerns about the children’s safety but ordered a follow-up visit because of the condition of the older Rinehart boy’s arm. The second report, which Kemp did not conduct, found the reports at the Draper household to be unfounded. During cross-examination, Kemp said Draper controlled the conversation when she talked to the family. She said he did not have trouble under- standing her, which she found to be unusual because she had been told Draper was deaf. “Laura would start to answer a question, and Peter would step in and finish the question for her,” she said. Cody Struss of Kearney, also with the HHS, visited the home March 2, 2012, after another call was placed to the hotline about bruising on Joseph’s older brother. Struss observed the children and asked questions of the family. He said Draper answered most of the ques- tions, and that he tried to talk to Rinehart alone, but she refused. He also said during his conversation with Draper, he made several derogatory com- ments about Rinehart, saying that she was a “sinner” and “not a good mother.” “It was concerning,” Struss said of the comments. The family also told Struss about the oldest Rinehart boy’s rage issues. Rinehart said the boy would go into fits of rage in which he would harm him- self. Struss said he had a hard time believing that a child his age could exhibit such behav- ior, until the boy began to scream when his sister took a toy away and rammed himself head first into the wall during Struss’s visit. Chastity Ingram, a Franklin mental health practitioner who treated the Rinehart children, said she talked to Rinehart about ways to regulate her chil- dren’s emotions better and about parenting skills. None of her therapy recommendations included holding the children down, she said. During cross-examination by the prosecution, Ingram said children often harm themselves when they’re in stressful, diffi- cult situations and the behaviors can stem from being abused. Both HHS workers said the abuse allegations at the Draper home were termed unfounded, but that did not mean abuse had not occurred. email to: jessica.kokesh@kearneyhub.com CONTINUED FROM 1A ‘‘NNOO IIDDEEAA’’ HHOOWW BBOOYY WWAASS HHUURRTT:: Others who visited the family noticed nothing out of the ordinary Bringing the best local news to your doorstep. Since 1888.
- 7. $1.50 Deaths 6A L. Gail Farr ...............................Kearney Leland Holdt.............................Lincoln Daniela Rodriguez...............Kearney $1.50 • As low as 44 cents with home delivery WEEKEND, May 11-12, 2013 www.kearneyhub.com • 125th year, 172nd issue No. 1 Omaha South eliminates Kearney Cats score rare goal against Packers. Sports Tourism dollars critical for Kearney Losing archway would be big loss. 4A LORI BENGSTON cuddles 4-hour- old Matthew at the Good Samaritan Hos- pital Family Birth Center. He was due on Mother’s Day, but he arrived the day after the birthday of his grandmoth- er, Mary McCormick of Amherst. Happy to help deliver By MARY JANE SKALA Hub Staff Writer KEARNEY — Lori Bengston’s Mother’s Day pres- ent arrived three days early. Little Matthew Bengston, all 8 pounds 3 ounces of him, was born at 11:59 a.m. Thursday in the Family Birth Center at Good Samaritan Hospital. Four hours later, his father, Brent, and sister Kaitlyn, 8, admired the baby in Lori’s hos- pital room. Bengston’s nurse, Katy Oelkers, stood close by, too. For 35 years, she has helped mothers through labor and delivery. “There isn’t a day that I don’t want to come work here,” she said. She’s among a team of nurs- es in the Family Birth Center who love their jobs. “This is our work, and it’s an amazing experience,” said RN Dani Peisiger of Kearney. She has worked at the center for nine years. She and Oelkers sat down Thursday with five fellow nurs- es to share the highs, and a few lows, of their careers. They’re a family, they said. They chat- ted, interrupted each other, laughed and laughed some more. Along with Peisiger and Oelkers, the group includes Brandi Hardenbrook of Axtell, with 12 years experience; Tanya Sandoval of Kearney, 10 years; Sarah Barker of Kear- ney, 13 years and Amy Down- ing of Kearney, with 11 years. There also was Patty Perry, a Nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital reflect on their roles in helping others have a Mother’s Day Mary Jane Skala, Kearney Hub SHOWER FOR FLOWERS Rick Tucker, Kearney Hub SUNMART EMPLOYEE Trevor Dobberstein waters petunias Tuesday at the SunMart greenhouse. With high temperatures in the 60s predicted today (Saturday) and Sunday, gardeners may get their long- delayed chance to plant. Students learn about ‘Gooey Garbage’ By LORI POTTER Hub Staff Writer GRAND ISLAND — If their opinion came from looking through our landfills, “What would archeologists think of us?” Middle Republican Natur- al Resources District Informa- tion and Education Coordinator Roger Lawson asked. “That we’re disgusting,” replied Franklin fourth-grader Madalynn Welsh. Madalynn and her 26 class- mates were among 900 fourth- and fifth-graders who attended the 25th annual Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival Tues- day in Grand Island. The dozens of activities included the “Gooey Garbage” session in which Lawson walked the Franklin students through a step-by-step process to create model landfills from upside down 1-gallon milk jugs. Working in groups of four or five, they put a plastic bag in the jug to represent a landfill liner and then followed Law- son’s instructions to add syrup, ketchup, food coloring, Alka- Seltzer tablets, breakfast cere- al, toilet paper and other things to represent substances that go into real landfills. Goo in the milk jugs was covered with potting soil and water was sprinkled over the top like rain. Then the students poked holes in their landfill liners. When the milk jug caps were removed, brownish-green liq- uid dripped into plastic bowls created by the cut off bottoms of the jugs. The students were told the liquid represents leachate that can seep into groundwater from landfills that are unlined or have breaks in their clay lin- ers. In Nebraska, most drinking water comes from groundwa- ter, Lawson said. The demonstration made an Fourth- and fifth-graders learn about landfills at festival Grandpa guilty in 2-year-old boy’s death By JESSICA KOKESH Hub Regional Editor HASTINGS — Peter Draper was found guilty Friday on both counts of child abuse leveled against him in the 2012 death of his 2- year-old grandson. The jury was given the case at 3:50 p.m. Friday and deliberat- ed for just 45 min- utes before it came back with the verdict. Draper did not react when the verdict was announced. Draper was charged with one count of inten- tional child abuse resulting in the April 30, 2012, death of Joseph Rinehart Jr., 2, and one count of intentional child abuse resulting in serious bodily harm. The trial lasted four days. The first charge is a Class IB felony, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and the second is a Class II felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison. He will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 in Franklin. Joseph Rinehart’s paternal grandparents, Michael and Heidi Rinehart of Racine, Wis., attended the trial and were present for the read- ing of the verdict. Heidi Rinehart cried as the verdict was read, and said afterward she was relieved that there was justice for Joseph. “I’m excited, happy and relieved,” she said. “I’m glad it’s over.” Heidi said she and her hus- band attended the trial because Joseph’s father, Joseph Rinehart Sr., wouldn’t be able to emo- tionally handle the testimony, and they wanted to show their support for the toddler and other children. Joseph Sr. is try- ing to regain custody of the other three Rinehart children, Heidi said, and has weekly visi- tation with them. Joseph’s mother, Laura Rine- hart, and maternal grandmother Nancy Draper are still charged in the case. Nancy Draper, 48, is expected to go on trial in June in Phelps County District Court. She is charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death. Rinehart received a plea deal from the state after agreeing to testify in her father and moth- er’s trials. Charges against her were reduced from Class IB felony child abuse to Class II felony attempted child abuse, which carries a maximum of 50 years in prison. Rinehart’s testimony was a key argument for Kearney prepares to shine at Shrine Bowl By BUCK MAHONEY Hub Sports Editor KEARNEY — With just a little more spit and polish, Kearney will be ready for the Shrine Bowl all- star football game. “Everything is coming fast and furious,” Shrine Bowl Executive Director Chad Fuller said. The committee and local organ- izers have just three weeks before the June 1 game at UNK’s Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. “Things are going real well. I’m blown away by the way the Kearney area is supporting the game, and I’m excited to see how the game turns out,” Fuller said. A football, wrestling and track coach at Syracuse High School, Fuller has been involved with the Shrine Bowl in Nebraska and Kansas for many years. He played in the Kansas Shrine Bowl and his brother played in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl. His father, Bob, has been an assistant coach and head coach in both games. Chad became the executive director in January and has over- seen the change of venue from Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium. “When you’ve had a game in the same city for 53 years, there’s been a lot of changes. Probably the biggest change, is not being in the community and Helen Glatter, Kearney Hub CHAD CURPHY, a subcontractor for CBS Constructors of McCook works on the east sideline bleachers Friday at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. Curphy and his crew are adding 36 feet to each side of the bleachers for about 500 extra seats. MOTHER’S DAY, PAGE 2A GROUNDWATER FESTIVAL, PAGE 2A MORE ON GROUNDWATER FESTIVAL SECTION D SHRINE BOWL, PAGE 2A Jury deliberated just 45 minutes before coming back with verdict Peter Draper ““DDoonn’’tt ffeeeell sympathy for this man. The fact is that he is a man of rage. There’s no sympathy for that.” Assistant Attorney General Sandra Allen GUILTY VERDICT, PAGE 6A