Back in Happy Valley

A community of 460,000

We like to talk about being the third-largest city in Pennsylvania on big event weekends, like football games. And Beaver Stadium alone qualifies on sold out Saturdays.

We're big in other ways, too, and you just have to take a look at our online community and see it.

In October, that community will top out at about 460,000 unique visitors to CentreDaily.com, one of our largest numbers for sure.

Thanks to all of you great Web readers, and double thanks to those who find our bustling blogs page. That's a community too, and new bloggers join virtually every week writing about different topics.

Enjoy these blogs and enjoy the paper and the Web site in coming days, as we continue with election story after election story and on Thursday we feature and eight-page voters guide.

I'm taking a few days off to go west, and I'll be reading online just like you.

Professor Lou?

Former Centre Daily Times Publisher Lou Heldman landed quickly, after leaving the Wichita Eagle's publisher job.

You'll soon find him at Wichita State University.

We couldn't resist teasing with Professor Lou, but he'll actually work as a distinguished senior fellow in media management and journalism.

We certainly wish him well and we're glad to offer this update for all of Heldman's great friends in Happy Valley.

I'm not sure how much Heldman likes blogs, but he'd be interested, I'm sure, that this one has now topped 1,200 posts.

Giving fans a black eye

Just when we thought Penn State fans deserved applause for good behavior against Ohio State, the video debuted on YouTube and changed thinking quickly.

Web readers are sounding off over the video showing disgusting Penn State fan behavior.

This one gives all Penn State fans a black eye, and let's hope it wakes fans up to talk down this kind of behavior whenever they see it.

That's about all you can say. We'll see where the police investigation goes.

Stadium cleanup ends quietly

It's nice to know, officially, that the Penn State players' cleanup of Beaver Stadium is now history.

You might recall that Coach Joe Paterno called for it in a speech before alums in Philly over the summer, so of course we got interested in it.

Then, when the season arrived, we attempted to photograph it like we do stadium cleanup any other time.

But no, not this time. We we're invited. It was just for us, Paterno and Penn State said.

So there. We stayed away, not bothering sending resources to stand around outside.

So I'm glad for the update today that the cleanup is, in fact, over. We wouldn't know any other way.

We'll see what makes headlines next from a big alum speech in Philly or elsewhere, and how long that initiative lasts. This one didn't make the full season.

Open the government

Local TV this morning featured a sound bite with a Blair County representative on the prospect of open-records reform.

I didn't hear it but did read the words (in the gym you follow it that way). He essentially said he's open and he doesn't hear from anybody on this, so he sees no need to spend time on it. So there.

No need to revise a law that's 50 years old and an embarrassment to Pennsylvania and its citizens.

The TV reporter could and should have asked followups but that's his/her problem.

Our problem, collectively, is that state government -- starting with the Legislature -- doesn't feel the need to let taxpayers know much of anything.

That may change with reform, but a Senate committee yesterday polluted the Senate bill on this with exception after exception, and the House is now mired in amendment after amendment to a flawed bill that emerged from its committee.

It's time, Harrisburg, to open the people's government. It's time to let Pennsylvanians know what they're spending their money on.

It's time, and if legislators don't improve this 50-year-old law this time, voters should know, collectively, that they don't want us to know.

That would be some music to face when legislators go around seeking votes next time around. So the choice is theirs.

I hope you join with me in pushing for open government in a way not seen in Pennsylvania. It's truly time.

Here's our editorial today. We see the need.

Big Ten Network gets Ohio State

One Big Ten Network post deserves another, I guess, and a Columbus reader alerted me to the big controversy raging in No. 1 town.

What could they complain about? Well how about if their Buckeyes are the featured attraction on the Big Ten Network this Saturday, against Wisconsin.

Imagine that -- No. 1 on the network that so few see.

Penn State fans got the better end of the deal this week, with the Lions-Purdue on ESPN at noon Saturday. The Buckeyes-Badgers get the Big Ten Network.

It continues to be truly ridiculous that the network is not even offered in any capacity to many cable subscribers. But that's another post.

As for this week, good luck, Columbus. Hope you have a ticket.

Time to vote

As is my practice, I'll encourage readers to vote next week in my Sunday column.

The election is Nov. 6 and there's a lot to decide. More to come.

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to vote here online to help pick the winners of our Nittany Lion drawing and photo contest. It's all set up for you. See these great finalist entries and vote.

Thanks for helping us make this another great reader participation feature.

Big Ten Network status

The Big Ten Network Insider Newsletter offers updates and news on the new network that isn't yet offered to many cable customers.

Included in the latest newsletter:

-- There are an estimated 298,000 satellite subscribers to the network.

-- The hoops announcing team will include former Purdue coach Gene Keady, former Ohio State star Jimmy Jackson and former Northwestern star Tim Doyle.

The network has been an issue in Happy Valley on weekends when Penn State football games were carried, and I suspect it will stay a big issue in basketball season.

Many fans do not realize that about half or perhaps more of the Penn State men's games -- not even counting other sports -- will be carried by the Big Ten Network.

Perhaps fans don't care now, but I suspect they will come winter and Big Ten play.

Reading the Insider can let you know what you're missing. Thought I'd share key parts.

History doesn't repeat

It's called the greatest show in college football, and the atmosphere in and out of Beaver Stadium was indeed great Saturday night.

Lee Corso and company were live outside, along with the ESPN Radio team, and charged up white-clad students were impressively leading their own "We are" cheer inside.

It was grand, even as the game started slipping away.

You could tell early, as the Penn State defense could not stop a steady and impressive Ohio State offense. Were there concerns about the Buckeye quarterback? Not evident tonight.

Ohio State looked very much like the No. 1 team, not phased by the Beaver Stadium mania nor Penn State. The Nittany Lions started strong on offense, but there would be no easy road against the Buckeye defense.

It ended as 37-17 after A.J. Wallace returned a kick for TD, only to make you wonder -- again-- why Wallace doesn't touch the ball more often.

You have to think Ohio State, alone at the top in this wild college football season, can win out and again play for the national title. It's anybody's guess on the other team.

The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, could finish 8-3 and in sunny Florida. Fans enduring a cold night at Beaver Stadium might warm up at that thought.

Big doings in sports

It's a big time in sports, no doubt you'd agree.

There's Penn State against No. 1 Ohio State tonight at Beaver Stadium, along with a full slate of big college games.

There's the Breeders Cup horse races today in New Jersey.

There's the World Series, with game three tonight in Denver.

There's much more, including the World Finals of the Professional Bull Riders tour in Las Vegas.

Now this is big, big stuff, particularly for a bull riding fan like me. The best riders, the best bulls, the best fans. I'm heading to Vegas for the final finals next weekend.

Here's a look if you'd like to see how really big this is. Think Super Bowl or World Cup big. Or, Penn State fans can think Fiesta Bowl big.

Really big, and if you're curious be sure to catch it on Versus.

As for me, I'm off to the big game right here in Happy Valley. The perfect place for it, I'd say.

Among friends

We were among friends in Hershey yesterday, accepting awards in the state Newspaper of the Year contest.

We took the second place award, tied with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and behind the Harrisburg Patriot-News. I joked that the Patriot-News, which has won this contest for three straight years, didn't start winning until I left.

It's nice to be in that company, as papers seen by judges (in this case at Webster University in St. Louis) as doing a good job.

Speaking for us, we do the best we can with a small staff and great demands. It's challenging and it's fun.

Thanks for being among our half million or so monthly readers (counting our print readership and our recent unique Web visitors).

Bullish on Lions

I'd feel better if Matt Hahn were blocking, but I still feel confident that Penn State will end Ohio State's unbeaten run this weekend.

I offered my pick early in the midday report today.

Why wait? It has the makings of a classic, and the Lions could vault into a good bowl situation with a win.

House committee in spotlight again

The House State Government Committee is in session today, meeting on the Rockview land transfer issue.

Look for Mike Joseph's coverage of the hearing featuring 15 speakers.

Let's hope the committee is inclusive this time and does not revert to the anti-reform tactics of how it handled the open-records bill last week.

That was an embarrassment for this group of legislators, and the House now faces as many as five dozen amendments to the poor open-records bill now ready for debate.

There's hope that the Senate committee will deliver a better bill to the full Senate, and it has a good one to start with. You can follow the open records process in the passopenrecords blog by Jamie Blaine, linked on our site for your Web reading.

Courage in journalism

Six McClatchy reporters in Baghdad were honored with Courage in Journalism awards for work you read every day.

Here's a report from McClatchy news VP Howard Weaver's blog.

Their work comes with a high degree of danger, and it's great to see them recognized.

Many of our readers, I know, appreciate the work of the McClatchy Washington Bureau, and you could see it in the reception investigative editor Jim Asher received earlier this month at Penn State.

We're pleased to showcase this work, whether from Baghdad or Washington.

A true hero

Penn Stater Lt. Michael Murphy was a true hero, and his parents yesterday received his Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan.

We featured this story today, and let me highlight a Web reader's comment with the story that says it all in best of the Web fashion:

"Our society has been using the word 'hero' so often that, at times, its meaning seems to have been diluted.

'When we look at LT Murphy's sacrifice for his brothers in arms and his country, HERO does not adequately describe this great American.

"Thank you Lieutenant Murphy. God bless."

E-mail of the week?

It's not often that I think I've received the e-mail of the week on the first day of the week.

But I do today, and in fact this e-mail arrived early Monday morning from Jakarta, Indonesia.

The writer says we just don't have enough news of Centre County to satisfy him. He says, "Often, when I visit your website looking for news from home, I find the same news days on end and very limited content."

I let him know that we're doing what we can to report the news in Centre County, and in fact the Web site changes daily to reflect our content.

We always want to provide more, and I know readers want more. But I have to think that a reader in Indonesia can find some local news on CentreDaily.com.

Thanks for reading us, wherever you are.

Don't call this reform

My column today discussed the status of changes to government access in Pennsylvania.

We are, as you know, near the very bottom in openness in Harrisburg and elsewhere, thanks to the legislature and various governors.

The biggest change to the law in 50 years may take place this year, and today I wrote about how a progressive House bill got essentially gutted with not input -- not exactly reform.

Here's the column, so I don't repeat myself.

This is not reform, Harrisburg. This is the same old, same old.

The funny thing is, they know it's not reform. They're just hoping the voters aren't paying attention.

Are you?

More government access benefits everyone, because we all deserve to know where our tax money is going. Don't we?

A big road win

A road win is a rare thing for the Nittany Lions, so you should be happy about it.

It was wild, from start to finish, and the shining star in Bloomington was Maurice Evans with great impact plays on defense.

Penn State settled for too many field goals but scored enough to win 36-31 to set up what will be quite a weekend in Happy Valley next week.

The Nittany Lions are a rising 3-2 in the Big Ten and could really shake things up with a win over the Buckeyes.

The offense played well today but sputtered too often in the red zone, again. You have to be happy that they pulled out the win, given all of that.

Indiana is a program on the rise, and they gave the Lions a battle to remember.

A win next week could make this a season to remember, after a slow start in the Big Ten.

Enjoy our coverage from Bloomington, by Jeff Rice and Guy Cipriano, and stay tuned to a big week leading up to Ohio State.

Front page online

Reading from far away? How about Texas, or New Mexico, or Colorado -- three states where I know we have loyal and regular Web readers?

Just three. We have readers from every state every day, I know, and we're closing in on 300,000 unique visitors for October alone, with a good chunk of it to go.

Far-away Web readers can see our front page again, every day, and I'm sure they've noticed since it started reappearing Monday. If you haven't, consider yourself alerted by this blog post.

Here's the link to our front page, and you can find it on the right side of the home page with our "in print" links.

Hope you like it, and we'll soon have a link to our daily sports front.

Saying no in Bellefonte

At first it surprised me to learn that Bellefonte turned down a new state program called "Common Cents," encouraging sharing between districts.

It involves bringing in consultants to study needs and offer suggestions, at no cost to the school district.

But Bellefonte said no thanks, and board member Justin Houser made it clear why:

"This reminds me very much of Act 72, which was presented as a choice. It was like, wow, you can opt into this and then someone will help you with this and so on. And then when the message was sent at that time that the school boards of the state were not interested in (Act 72) ... Act 1 was forced upon us, which in turn was again rejected by the voters of the state because it was seen for what it was.”

Pretty good memory, highlighting a pretty bad track record by the state.

It's sad to see districts turn down free "help," but it's clear that the state hasn't gained their trust. Another program bites the dust, in Bellefonte and no doubt in many other districts across Pennsylvania.

The view from Allentown

Allentown attorney John Karoly Jr. certainly has a lot to say regarding unfair treatment of his client, Austin Scott.

Read it for yourself.

The case can and should play out in the courts, no matter what the out-of-town attorney has to say.

Comparing it to the Duke situation? Really?

Here's Karoly:" I was hopeful before the charges were brought, that what happened at Duke University would send a message to a lot of prosecutors beyond the borders of that state."

We'll wait to see what happens. He should too.

What's wrong with Washington

It just strikes me at a very basic level that this political gridlock over the children's health insurance bill should be a poster for what's wrong with Washington.

We're getting a chance to be fully tuned in because U.S. Rep. John Peterson is getting attention for his steadfast view not to vote to override President Bush's veto.

You can read it all, and we've packaged Peterson's column from Tuesday with today's story.

But at the heart of this is the problem with Washington. They can't make a difference, as yet, in an issue that impacts thousands and thousands of American families.

It's a basic -- the health of children -- and anyone who pays for health insurance knows it's costly. Any help from Washington would be appreciated by taxpayers who send so much money to Washington.

But no, they're in gridlock over this. Of course, they don't have to worry about health insurance, do they?

Building a Bridge

My Sunday column highlighted Global Connections and the work it does to build a bridge in Centre County.

It also highlighted racist reaction that our first of the monthly Global Connections' writers received after her column was published.

I don't usually highlight the reaction of one reader but in this case I felt the need to.

Please read the column for yourself and know that at this point we've heard of no negative reaction to Monday's Global Connections column, which was very good.

I'm sure we have a nice addition to the paper for all of our readers.

Hot Rocks

I make it to Coors Field once or twice a year, so I'm following with interest what is happening with the Colorado Rockies.

They're in a Baseball Heaven of their own, aren't they? This is a streak not seen in baseball in ages, and perhaps not seen in sports.

Now they wait -- as the hottest team in a generation -- for the World Series and history.

You can't pick against them, can you?

What you can do, however, is shake your head again at Major League Baseball for not having a clue how to present its post-season games.

Let's think of the worst start time and start the games then, why don't we?

No wonder ratings were down for the Colorado-Arizona series. The East Coast saw maybe a few innings at most.

Someday, somehow, baseball has to figure out that to reach people -- particularly young people and families -- they have to show the games when people can see them.

It's ashame they messed it up again this year, because everyone should have seen the Rockies. Don't miss them in the World Series.

Send us your photos

Readers patiently wait for the announcement of our photo contest, now in its fourth year, and Sunday they no doubt were pleased.

The contest kicked off in our Centre Living section and here online, and on the first day we received e-mailed photos from six readers.

That's the fastest start in the contest's short history, and we're pleased.

The contest runs until the end of the year so you have plenty of time to choose and send your two best photos, or even go shoot photos that you'll be proud to enter.

We'll publish submitted photos occasionally as we collect them, and judges will select finalists in January for you to help pick the winners in the various categories in print and online voting.

And speaking of judging, today we're narrowing down the submitted photos in our Nittany Lion contest. Tomorrow we'll do the same for the Nittany Lion drawings submitted by youngsters, and on the Ohio State weekend we'll unveil the five finalists in each category for your voting.

More than 100 photos and sketches came in during the Nittany Lion contest, thanks to our Lion-loving readers.

Gamble Mill a treasure

I started to dine at the Gamble Mill when I moved back to Happy Valley, and I can say that every meal and every experience has been excellent.

The Gamble Mill is truly a charm of Bellefonte, and I'm always directing visitors over there.

Hat's off to current owners Jeanne Murphy and Courtney Confer for running a great restaurant, and here's a suggestion for Web readers: If you haven't visited the Gamble Mill, make time for lunch before the end of the year, when the ownership change takes place.

The new partnership has a fine track record, and it looks like the Gamble Mill is in great hands. Bellefonte residents and diners should feel good and stay well fed.

A special fan

Linda Bartlett truly is a special fan, and I'm thrilled that she was named our fan of the game today.

Linda watches the Penn State games from her wheelchair in Pleasant Gap, and she's as big a fan as there is anywhere.

She has had quite a struggle since a 1983 car accident involving a drunk driver left her paralyzed.

Your heart goes out to her, and I'm sure you're happy for her, like I am, that she enjoys the Nittany Lions each week.

Linda is a special fan, and I'm sure she loved Saturday's game immensely.

All the best Linda, and thanks to the reader who let us know about Linda.

Nittany Lion visits kindergarten

State College teacher Debbie Patrick writes a "Notes from the Teacher" column and blog for our readers, and her next column is coming next weekend.

But her latest blog item is special, and I want to highlight it for you.

The Nittany Lion -- yes, that Nittany Lion -- visited kindergarten last week and there was quite a reaction.

We'll let Patrick tell you about it. Don't miss her contributions to the paper and online.

Too bad he's annoyed

Take a look at what Joe Paterno said when asked after the game by reporters about the Austin Scott situation.

It was of several questions about on and off the field performance, and it was legitimate coming just a day after the former starting tailback was charged with rape and more.

Paterno, visibly upset: “I’m not gonna even make a comment on that. And I’m annoyed. Simple as that. I had a bunch of kids play a good football game today against a good team.”

Paterno, who thinks his program doesn't have an image problem, hasn't even clarified Scott's status on the team. In case he missed it, the Scott case merited headlines all weekend on sports shows and in newspapers.

And in case he forgot, he invested several years in Scott, and now with him facing charges it's fair for reporters to ask him about it. And it would be fair for reporters to ask him -- in the limited chances they get -- about the other dozen players who have had experience with the legal system since April.

Too bad he's annoyed. The questions will continue, whether there's a glow of a big football victory or not.

All-business Lions

To their credit the Nittany Lions brushed off all of the distractions and were all business Saturday, rolling to a surprisingly dominant Homecoming win.

Who would have expected 38-7 over Wisconsin?

The Lions' offensive line is improving dramatically, and an impressive rushing attack with Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster made things happen.

Anthony Morelli had his best game by far, and the defense led by Sean Lee was stifling.

Wisconsin has dropped from its lofty perch, first losing at Illinois and then here in a Penn State performance that left the sixth-largest Beaver Stadium crowd happy.

That it happened after such a rocky week of off-the-field distractions is a credit to the players and coaches, and we'll just have to see what happens now.

The Lions face a tough game at Indiana next Saturday, and a win would give them great momentum for the Ohio State game two weeks from now.

But guys already in the legal system are making big contributions, and if anything else happens off the field the Lions could be derailed.

It's an interesting season, and it could turn out to be a really good one if the all-business Lions show up every week.

Reader submissions abound

Thanks to our print and online readers for contributing so much to our paper and Web site, and what better time to highlight it than on this Penn State Homecoming weekend when thousands of those readers are here in Happy Valley.

The entire "7 Wonders of Centre County" package was selected by our readers, and it concludes today with the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts named a wonder.

Here and there you will see negative comments about these wonders and about us trumpeting them for you. Par for the course, I'd say, and I'd suspect that some of the posters never bothered to vote in the month-long wonders challenge. It's easier to criticize, isn't it?

Today we feature reader-submitted recipes for tailgates, and you can file them away for next year or even the final two home games. Thanks in particular to Arlene Macri, a frequent recipe contributor, and Judge Brad Lunsford, a repeat recipe contributor. I hope to try the judge's chili at next Saturday's salsa and chili cookoff in State College, now how about that.

Today we also feature another in our Penn State football memory columns, and thanks to writer Jamey Perry for sharing a very special tailgate on this Wisconsin weekend. And we feature another in our United Way columns, and thanks to writers Penn State President Graham Spanier and Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agriculture Sciences.

Our online living page and weekend Centre Living sections are filled with more reader-submitted material, and we thank those who are not highlighted here.

Our readers -- in a big way -- help us offer more and more local content to our growing readership overall. And that readership, so far in October, numbers nearly 210,000 unique visitors online alone.

Limited access

Football writer Jeff Rice shares our challenges with readers today in a column that you should read.

It's titled "Sources must be considered when reporting."

Journalism students and readers alike will benefit from it, as Rice discusses what reporters go through to present the truth at a time when rumors blaze on the Internet.

His job is all about facts, and it depends on access and the ability to get those facts.

I titled this post Limited Access because that's exactly what Rice and other writers get when covering Penn State football.

Let's take this week alone, as unconfirmed reports took on lives of their own on the Internet.

Rice and beat reporters attended Coach Joe Paterno's Tuesday news conference, like they always do. They learned very little in the form of updates about football.

They didn't hear about Paterno's own brush with the law; Paterno explained his role to a private audience on Wednesday and then to a controlled audience via his Thursday radio talk show. Nobody had a chance to ask him a question.

Rice and other beat reporters don't get any other access to Paterno during a week leading to a game. Tuesday is it. They work via teleconferences, talking to players who are given the green light to talk. They talk to the opposing coach and players too.

That's the way it's done, this year and every other year. It's Limited Access, to say it nicely. And people wonder why things blaze on Internet.

Happy Homecoming

Happy Homecoming Penn Staters, each and every one of you.

Thanks for reading us on the Web and come back often, because some of our better features have yet to appear in this redesign.

Happy Homecoming indeed, and it will be great to get into the stadium and start the game.

More so than ever, perhaps, because we've had one of the craziest weeks leading up to a game that I can ever remember, and many questions remain.

One has been answered today, with no charges against either driver in the traffic incident that blazed on the Web all week. Coach Joe Paterno was one of the drivers.

Other off-the-field incidents are still playing out, we know, so it's been quite a ride. Perhaps order will be restored Saturday when the game kicks off and the alumni band is fully a part of the festivities.

I'm looking forward to it. And I'm sure you are too.

Happy Homecoming, all.

Unquestionably, a wonder

I enjoy meeting many readers each year at the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair, and this year I enjoyed it greatly.

We talked about our "7 Wonders of Centre County" challenge and I encouraged people to share their suggestions.

It was fun to listen to their ideas and see some people scratch their head in wonderment. "A wonder in the county? What would that be?" they seemed to say.

Well, many, many readers thought of wonders, and this week they're being unveiled.

The Grange Fair is in lights in October, and it's a perfect fit as a wonder, wouldn't you say?

I'm enjoying the reaction to this week-long series, and I'll remind you that two more wonders will be named on Friday and Saturday.

Enjoy, and let me share this posted comment -- one I like.

A reader wrote this today: "Nice to see that people voted for three Penns Valley landmarks! Penns Cave, the Round Barn & now Grange Fair! See -- there IS more to life than just State College and PSU football!!!"

Nice to see, and I'm truly glad that readers have helped us celebrate the county in a wonderful way.

The iPod of 1690

Ken Paulson, editor of USA Today, visited Penn State yesterday for the anniversary luncheon of the Student Newspaper Readership program.

He also talked to classes and gave a great talk last night at the HUB.

Paulson, who I met last week at APME, talked about the newspaper as the iPod of 1690, the brand new invention that is still going strong a few hundred years later.

His remarks were engaging and right on target about our challenges today but our value, still, at this time when Americans are more likely to question our First Amendment freedoms.

We're fighting the good fight, raising questions and covering news in our communities and in many cases drawing record readership online.

I'm sure students appreciated his remarks, and tonight they have an opportunity to hear Jim Asher, investigative editor of the McClatchy Washington Bureau, at 7:30 at the HUB.

Thanks to the candidates

One of our pre-election features enables candidates to answer questions for our readers, in their own words, on their own time.

County commissioner candidates did just that recently, and today we published the first questions and answers. Another set comes tomorrow.

Next week we'll feature county judge and district judge candidates, and let me thank all of the candidates for participating.

This is great for our readers, the voters. More election coverage will come, to be sure, but these give you a chance to read what the candidates write.

 

10 years of PSU readership

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the Penn State Student Readership Program, and my printed column highlighted it on Sunday.

Here's a link for Web readers.

I'm pleased to represent the Centre Daily Times in these events, but many people worked hard before me to get this program set up.

Former Publisher Henry Haitz and Penn State student affairs leader Bill Asbury are two, along with Penn State President Graham Spanier.

They deserve the credit for this highly successful program that is being celebrated on campus this week. Read my column for details.

Design trumpets wonders

Seven wonders deserve seven days and a strong presentation.

Centre Daily Times readers are seeing a striking front-page design each day as we announce the county's wonders, as voted by you.

Already, the design has received attention in an innovation blog, linked here. Thanks, from one blogger to another.

Diane Lewin, assistant news editor who oversees our design and designs many of our front pages, created the look that began Sunday. 

The design will continue this week featuring each new wonder. Mount Nittany, the Central PA 4th Fest ... what's next?

Ironman Luke

Fresh off setting the record for most consecutive appearances in Professional Bull Riders' top-tier events, Luke Snyder hosted his own invitational at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and it was truly a treat for fans.

Fans, like myself, saw some of the best riders in the world Sunday, as some flew from Salt Lake City after the big Built Ford Tough event to Harrisburg to compete in Snyder's Enterprise tour event.

It was the same type event as hosted at the Bryce Jordan Center in April, except this one had Ironman as the headliner and offered guys a chance to add to their earnings as the deadlines nears for qualifying for the world finals in Vegas.

And guys showed up, some of the best, including two-time world champ Chris Shivers who finished second, delighting his fans in the Farm Show audience.

Snyder did well but Billy Robinson of Virginia was the day's ironman, riding with a broken jaw wired shut and nearly winning the thing. He was bucked off in the final round to fall short.

Winning was the youngest of young guns, J.C. Navarro of Archdale, N.C., who just earned his bull riding card. All of 19 and in a lime green shirt, Navarro wowed the crowd and rode Ambush in the opening round and Strike in the final round to seal the win and $10,000.

Snyder was the perfect host, signing autographs and even getting a birthday cake from the Farm Show crew for his 25th. His ongoing record, nearly 200 straight Built Ford Tough events, may never be broken, considering the injuries in this incredibly tough sport.

Hat's off to him, and hat's off to the riders, the bulls, the bull fighters and the Farm Show crew for a great event in Pennsylvania. Come back soon.

The PBR likes to say it's the seventh-most watched sport and it hopes soon to overtake the National Hockey League in audience. East Coast fans are among its targets, and events like this one certainly  helps. It's popular, and you only have to look at the children and families in the crowds.

I understand. I'm a big fan and enjoyed it today. 

Follow the wonders

Follow the "7 Wonders of Centre County" with us this week, as we present one per day.

They're your wonders, after all, and today's first one is Mount Nittany. No surprise, I'm sure.

Will any surprise you? You'll find out this week. Stay tuned.

An important win

Perhaps the Nittany Lions gained the confidence they need with today's 27-7 win over Iowa.

This certainly wasn't the Iowa team you're used to.

That aside, the Lions had to make things happen and they did to win before a white-shirted crowd at Beaver Stadium.

It's the first Big Ten win and all of a sudden there's a lot going on in the conference. Illinois may be for real with its huge win over Wisconsin, and the Badgers will come here out of the top 10 and certainly not invincible.

Michigan State also fell to Northwestern today in OT on the Big Ten Network, and tonight's Ohio State-Purdue game will tell a lot about the Boilers.

But no doubt, today's performance is a good win for 4-2 Penn State and perhaps there's momentum to take on Wisconsin in a signature home game.

We started a poll about that and we'll see what fans think. Thanks for reading us and look for our team coverage of the Iowa game in Sunday's Centre Daily Times.

Many people to thank

It's great to be back in Happy Valley after three days in Washington for the Associated Press Managing Editors conference and my first real election experience.

A month of online voting for the APME board seats intensified Thursday and Friday at the conference, and every newspaper had a vote.

It was a close race, we were told (notice there was no paper trail), and I won the seat to represent small newspapers on the board.

It was a surprise to say the least and I'm honored and humbled. Thanks to everyone who voted for me (perhaps a few of you read this blog.) I met friends at the conference and made some new friends, but I got votes from people I never met, obviously. Thanks very much.

Thanks mostly to our great staff at the Centre Daily Times who do the best job they can and make things happen. I'd never have any chance like this without them, and our work in print and online gets attention, deservingly.

Thanks also to our Publisher Adrian Pratt, who is a true champion for what we do and a great supporter.

I look forward to running with this wonderful opportunity and working for small papers -- and big ones -- in many areas. It's fantastic, and the best part is I can do it all from Happy Valley with just a little travel here and there.

It's great to be back.

Campaign in full swing

I'm off to Washington and the APME convention, for the final stage of my campaign for the board of directors.

It's been low budget, via e-mail, and now it will kick into high gear with hand shakes.

It's unnerving running for national election with the whole country watching your every move. Well, it's not quite that big but big enough for someone like me who's happy in Happy Valley. I'm running for the one board seat to represent newspapers like ours (35,000 circulation and under).

I'll report the outcome this weekend, win or lose. You'll have to get it here because it won't make national news and it won't even make print in any form unless I win.

How about 9-6?

I cringe every time I hear someone talk about that 6-4 game with Iowa, the last time the Hawkeyes visited Beaver Stadium, and how this Saturday's contest could be similar.

Why? Well, both teams have strong defenses and both are not scoring in the red zone, in particular.

I'm sure it warms your heart, like it does mine, that Penn State doesn't fumble in practice. That's according to Coach Joe Paterno on Tuesday. Perhaps not, but they make up for it in games, don't they.

I'm leaving town Wednesday for the APME conference so I'll offer my prediction right here. It usually gets out in Friday's midday report, but there's no reason to wait and of course I've been wrong for two straight weeks.

So, here's my pick: How about 9-6?

It's a toss up, friends, and field goals will rule. I need a couple more days to really figure out the winner. At this writing, however, I'd say Iowa.

That could change. But I'm most confident that it won't end 6-4. Nothing should, expect one of these Phillies-Rockies games with the Fightin' Phils on top.

Now that would we a score to savor.

45,000 pages and counting

Amazingly, we have 45,000 pages to load into the new Web design that you're now seeing.

It's a massive job and it'll continue for a few days, with a goal that all content will be restored and new content will start to emerge.

But otherwise, you're seeing the new navigation tools at the top and easier access to different sections, I hope.

Some of my most critical friends are weighing in, saying they like this design. One called it "the right look for the Web."

Other readers are not so positive, but we all know that anything that changes will generally draw negative reaction at first. That's always seen at a newspaper, whether if it involves the printed paper or the Web site.

As I wrote in the midday report, patience all. You'll probably eventually like what you see.

Thanks, of course, for reading us at such great rates. You're watching a monstrous redesign -- all 45,000 pages worth.

A salute to the manager

Just call him what he call himself -- a "baseball rat" and a "24-hour guy."

Here's a salute to Charlie Manual, and better than coming from me here's a David Aldridge story that will encourage you to salute.

During a long baseball season you can hear Manual being called everything but a winner.

But he's now the big winner, as are the Phillies, and he deserves to be recognized in this celebration.

Pardon if I continue to drift from Happy Valley, but these Phillies memorable moments only happen every 14 years or so. 

Let's enjoy them, one game at a time.

Wonders coming your way

We have a great result to our "7 Wonders of Centre County" challenge.

My Sunday column discussed this so I won't repeat everything.

Just a reminder to watch for the wonders announcements starting Sunday in the Centre Daily Times and here online, and a special thanks to all who participated in the voting.