Former Senator Gene Stipe home after brain surgery

<br>(McAlester-AP) -- Former state Senator Gene Stipe has returned to McAlester after brain surgery in Oklahoma on Wednesday . <br><br>Stipe says he was released from the hospital Thursday and is feeling

Friday, December 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(McAlester-AP) -- Former state Senator Gene Stipe has returned to McAlester after brain surgery in Oklahoma on Wednesday .

Stipe says he was released from the hospital Thursday and is feeling ``pretty good.''

Doctors replaced a shunt in Stipe's head to control the flow of fluid into his brain. The first shunt was damaged when Stipe fell and hit his head earlier this year.

Stipe now faces a January 30th sentencing in Washington, DC, for federal campaign violations and prosecutors have said he should serve some prison time. His sentencing has been delayed six times, five times for health-related reasons.

Stipe says he wants to get the sentencing behind him and plans to attend the hearing.