Neb. town abuzz over tourism idea: electric chair

[March 24, 2009]  LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Residents of a small southwest Nebraska town have a question for state officials: You're not doing anything with that old electric chair, are you?

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year that the state's use of the electric chair was unconstitutional. Some people in McCook -- population just under 8,000 -- think "Old Sparky" could be a tourist attraction and have offered to take it off the state's hands.

Fifteen men were executed in the chair, which is about 210 miles east of McCook at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

Corrections department spokeswoman Connie Nemec says there are no immediate plans to move the chair.

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On the Net:

City of McCook: http://www.cityofmccook.com/

[Associated Press; By ANNA JO BRATTON]

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