REA's 75th celebrated on Sept. 26

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Rural electrification partners will host the 75th anniversary celebration of the Rural Electrification Administration at the Keystone Business Center on Sunday, Sept. 26.

The Center is at 402 Norris Ave., in McCook, and the event is from 2 to 4 p.m. CDT.

The first community to receive power through the REA system was Tecumseh, Nebraska.

McCook is home to U.S. Senator George W. Norris who helped craft the REA legislation. Today, REA's successor, the Rural Utilities Service, a mission area of USDA Rural Development, finances electric, telecommunications including broadband, and water and waste systems across rural America.

Guest speakers will include John Allen, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Utah State University; Jessica Zufolo, Deputy Administrator for USDA Rural Utilities Service, and Robert Harris, a McCook native who is with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Honorable service recognitions will be presented by Ron Asche, President/CEO for the Nebraska Public Power District.

The event is free and open to the public; however space is limited.

To reserve your seat, contact the Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise at (308) 345-8122 or CFEMcCook@MPCC.edu. A reception will follow the program and conclude with a tour of the Norris house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT.

The event is sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council, Nebraska Public Power District, USDA Rural Development, Nebraska Rural Electric Association, the Norris Institute, Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise, McCook Public Power District, Southwest Public Power District and Twin Valleys Public Power District.