'Nebraska's Hot Spot' wants 'Old Sparky'

Thursday, March 19, 2009

McCook Daily Gazette

McCook's slogan, "Nebraska's Hot Spot," could take on a whole new meaning.

Attending this morning's McCook Chamber of Commerce legislative conference call was Duane Tappe, who asked whether the state electric chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky," could be exhibited in McCook as a tourism attraction.

State Sen. Mark Christensen responded that he sent a letter last year requesting the chair for McCook but hadn't heard back. Nebraska's death penalty is in limbo after the electric chair was ruled to be cruel and unusual punishment and the Legislature has so far failed to enact a bill authorizing lethal injection or some other form of execution.

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I am just curious as to who had this genius idea, and why they think an old rusty chair will bring the town out of debt? Plus is this the image we really want to give the rest of the state or country for that matter of our town?

-- Posted by notsmalltime on Thu, Mar 19, 2009, at 10:39 PM

Since I used to be a corrections officer at the State Penitentiary, let me tell "notsmalltime" that the chair is made out of solid wood.

-- Posted by Pierre on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 5:18 AM

Hell ya bring it here! I don't know if a lot of people would go see it but I would!

-- Posted by remington81 on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 8:46 AM

I support the death penalty. I even support old sparky, and I dont care if it hurts a little. But I do not think that it is the type of thing I would like to see on display anywhere. I think the death penalty and all of the tools used to carry out the sentence are a necessary evil, its not a joke, and its not a carnival attraction. I think it is in very poor taste to have such a display. But thats only my opinion.

-- Posted by seentoomuch on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 9:39 AM

What "debt" is notsmalltime referring to? I'm pretty sure I just read about how well the city was doing financially.

-- Posted by McCook1 on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 11:14 AM

An old electric chair...yeppers, that'll bring in the tourists and visitors alright. Say, how about a Spanish Inquisition Rack, and a Salem Gallows?

It took a real lame brain to come up with this idea.

Unbelievable!

-- Posted by didereaux on Sat, Mar 21, 2009, at 12:17 PM

Now this is getting ridiculous. Leave that chair in Lincoln where it needs to be. Who knows, maybe they will reinstate the death penalty.

To get people to come to McCook, do something that all would enjoy. Like the fountains in Barnett Park.

Would you like to visit a museum with that chair in it?? A signature of death??? I think not. Looks like someone has their head in the wrong place....or maybe it is in the right place for them.

-- Posted by edbru on Mon, Mar 23, 2009, at 6:17 PM