-- Denny Sciabica, Centre County commissioner and chairman of the county election committee, began preparing for the election at 2:30 a.m. yesterday and said he probably wouldn't leave the courthouse until 3 a.m. today. Sciabica has been the committee chairman for the last two years.

-- Sciabica brought about 15 gallons of homemade apple cider from the 14-acre farm he operates with the help of his wife. He brings the cider for the people who help bring the elections together across the county, he said.

-- Richard Rishel, 67, and Paul Byer, 68, both of Millheim, worked more than 17 hours during the election yesterday at the only precinct in Millheim and received $48 each for their efforts.

"You see, we aren't doing it for the money," Byer said.

The pair received an additional $6 each to bring the ballots to the courthouse -- a 40-minute drive.

"We're looking at the true meaning of civil service," Sciabica said. "These people believe in the system."

-- Former State College Area Republican Chairman Nancy Heil -- she retired effective 8 p.m. last night -- called the people who work the polls on election day are the "unsung heroes" in this election.

"They are the volunteers of the highest order," she said.

But after scrambling Monday night to get enough workers in time for the election, she warned that the whole voting process could fall apart without the volunteers.