There's a buzz in every newsroom - and every news organization - on election night.
Election night brings a greater sense of teamwork than just about any other occasion because of the urgency, the heightened flow of information and the excitement of winners and losers and their accompanying storylines.
The sports department can relate: During football season, every Friday night and the hamster chase of collecting stories and scores throughout the region, is like election night.
Once upon another time, and when the Mirror was an afternoon paper, all hands from all departments were on deck at various polling places to report results. That custom has been replaced by technology, but it's sometimes still necessary to read results race by race and type them in.
As a reward for the all-out effort of stories being hammered out on deadline, pizza for the newsroom is provided.
Regional media occasionally pop in, and it was nice to see veteran Roy Goshorn, stringing one of the races for The Associated Press, arrive with reporter Kay Stephens. Goshorn, who has always been an upbeat representative of the region, had a few faxes to send to AP.
The Mirror was an original member of United Press International umpteen years ago but switched to AP.
As election nights go, Tuesday was a bit slow because of the lack of local races.
News, though, knows no hours, and just when we may have thought the paper could be put to bed came word of the terrible tragedy of a student from Claysburg-Kimmel, Kristen Aungst, dying in a car crash and confirmation that local businessman Greg Morris had filed for reorganization under the Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Phil Ray and Mark Leberfinger jumped in to get the stories in the nick of time - or before the last piece of election night pizza was gone.
Dangerous situation
Reporter Greg Bock's report in Friday's paper of a robbery at the Logan Valley Mall described quite a scene.
Police allege a 17-year-old walked into Kranich's Jewelers shortly after 1 p.m. and ran off with a Rolex watch worth about $25,000.
According to police and court documents, just as the robber was running from Kranich's, Mike Trialonas was coming in the mall doors by the jewelry store.
"I just heard a bunch of people screaming, 'Stop him!'" Trialonas, 30, said.
Trialonas grabbed the alleged robber and slammed him against the wall. After the suspect freed himself, Trialonas and others chased him into the parking lot. Police eventually caught the getaway car, secured the watch and arrested the trio.
Obviously, this was a dangerous situation in which Trailonas and the others in pursuit displayed great courage but were fortunate to avoid serious injury.
Reminds me of a chase scene from one of my favorite movies, "The Fugitive."
108-year-old dies
Reader Charlotte Disshon of Osceola Mills informs that her mother, Kathryn Dixon, passed away March 23.
She was 108.
We wrote about Dixon in 2007. At that time, she was 105 - the oldest of more than 50 area residents who responded to a story seeking information about the area's oldest people.
"She always told me it was no fun getting old," Disshon, 86, said. "You lose all your family and friends and feel so alone. I just wish I had a memory like her."
What a performance
The Mirror is one of the sponsors of "The Music Man," which wraps up with two performances today at Penn State Altoona's Misciagna Center.
We've increased our involvement in the arts significantly over the years, and a number of Mirror representatives were on hand for the debut Thursday night - a stirring effort in which the entire crowd applauded and stood for the curtain call.
Too many what?
We review the subscription renewal forms to gain ideas and reader feedback. I must admit the ones that say "you have too many inserts on Sundays" are humorous.
I only hope it's a "problem" that the Mirror has forever.
Managing Editor Neil Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.
