Body of woman, car recovered from canal

COLUMBUS - A woman's body was recovered shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday from a vehicle submerged in the Loup Power District supply canal six miles northwest of Columbus.

Follow this link to see photos from the scene at the canal.

The body was found inside a sport utility vehicle completely underwater in the canal on the west side of U.S. Highway 81, according to information released by Platte County Coroner Andrea Belgau.

The Platte County Sheriff's Department called out the county dive and rescue team about 5 p.m. Tuesday. The team returned to the scene Wednesday.

The identity of the victim was not revealed pending notification of family members.

The woman's body was found just hours after the Columbus Police Department asked the public for information on the whereabouts of a woman who has been missing for nearly a week.

Tracy Marie McFarland, described as a white female 5-5 inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds with long, straight blond hair and green eyes, has been missing since Thursday morning, Sept. 27, according to information released shortly before noon by the department.

Police said McFarland could be driving a white 2001 Kia Sportage with a Nebraska license plate of 27-B794. The woman's age and address were not released.

The police department would not comment on whether the search for the missing woman had any connection to the dive and rescue team's search effort.

Anyone with information on the missing woman is urged to call (402) 564-3201.