This weekend marks an anniversary in Mirror history.
Twenty-five years ago - April 5, 1987 - we published our first Sunday edition.
Since founder Harry Slep delivered his first back slap to an employee in 1874 - the Sleps are big on hearty laughs and back slaps - transitioning to a morning paper from an afternoon may still be the most significant change the Mirror has ever made, but the Sunday paper is right up there, too.
It gave us a centerpiece edition that could anchor the week and allowed us to think bigger. It gave us more space to plan out issue-driven packages and spread out special presentations.
It also allowed us to further sectionalize the paper and to, as the saying around the Green Avenue building went, "think Sunday."
Old-school readers will recall when the Mirror did not have sports and lifestyle and business news (or even the farm and social pages) on its section fronts.
Those positions were reserved for advertising while readers would go on an expedition through the paper to find most of the news, including the obituaries.
That gradually changed over the years, thankfully, as the advertising began to supplement the news more than vice versa.
Now, hopefully, it is a better balance, and we can still provide something for everyone.
The Mirror has been blessed with wonderful continuity over the years, evidenced by the fact that many of us here for the inaugural Sunday edition are still here.
Two of the photo credits on Page 1 of the April 5, 1987 paper belonged to Gary Baranec and J.D. Cavrich. Six other full-time members of our current newsroom roster - Phil Ray, Paul Singer, Kay Stephens, Linda Gracey, Barb Cowan and me - remain along with a number of contributors such as Jim Lane, Sue Mulhollem, John Hartsock, Tim Doyle and Paul Lilly who were full-timers then.
Dave Cuzzolina was the managing editor at the time, and he wrote a "Welcome to the Sunday Mirror" column. Patt Frank wrote the lead story on flooding in Geeseytown, and Alice Rudolph examined the dangers of drug use and how it was being combated in the area.
In sports, we unveiled our fourth annual high school all-star basketball team (last week was No. 29). The players of the year were Joe Brumbaugh of Altoona and Sue Panek of Bishop Carroll.
I wrote a "Where Are They Now" on former Major League player Bob Ramazzotti, and the feature became a Sunday staple for several years.
Gradually, we got used to turning around Saturday news and sports for Sunday, and the concept has helped us further regionalize as circulation on Sundays is about 35,000 - or 5,000 more than our daily distribution.
Not long after going Sunday, the decision was made to publish 365 days per year. Like the Sunday paper, we think it's made us better because news doesn't wait - especially today in the 24/7 cycle - and the newspaper, along with your coffee, helps to start your day.
So enjoy your Sunday - today your Easter Sunday - and your Sunday Mirror.
Here's to the next 25 years.
Mirror Managing Editor Neil Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.
