Anybody lose an emu?

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

City of McCook employee Rick Province, center, McCook Police Officer Justin Pachner and McCook veterinarian Wayne Watkins, right, conduct an "emu rescue" about noon Friday, south over the steep bank at the west junction of U.S. Highways 6&34 and 83 in McCook. The emu surprised drivers near Wal-Mart and the junction until Province corralled it in tall weeds south of the highway. While he and Pachner waited for word on an owner, Province made friends with the bird. Dr. Watkins arrived with a soft rope, and the three men led the bird -- hooded with city employee Gonzie Aguilar's red glove -- up the hill, past concrete rubble, between John Deere tractors and into a pen at the Four Winds animal clinic. Waiting at the top of the hill to help was Southwest Implement employee Curt Swanhorst. Anyone missing the bird is encouraged to call the clinic, (308) 345- 3270, or the McCook police department, (308) 345-3450. The "emu at large" call -- which would entail helping to "wrangle" a nearly 100-pound bird -- was one of Officer Pachner's first calls since returning to work this week, following a year of service with the Army National Guard in Kuwait.