by Kaley Lyon, FHSU
DENVER — Shala Mills long has watched the Democratic National Convention on television.

This week, however, Mills has had a much better view from the convention hall floor.

"It was amazing," Mills said following Sen. Hillary Clinton''s speech Tuesday evening. "Last night was great too, but tonight was just amazing."

This year, it''s Mills'' family who is watching the event on television. Her parents said they saw her on camera twice, and her two daughters were watching the event live via the Internet, she said.

Mills, a Hays resident and Kansas delegate, said it was standing-room only, as she and her husband, Darrell Hamlin, crowded into the Pepsi Center.

The night''s line-up also included Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, which was another special moment for the Kansas delegation, Mills said.

Mills, and many other Democrats, left the convention hall feeling encouraged, she said.

"All this talk you hear on television that there''s a division in the party — there was just no evidence of that at all," she said. "Just a lot of unity."

Special arrangements also were made for alternate delegates pledged to Clinton, so they would be allowed on the floor to get a better view of their candidate, she said.

The night''s events were the conclusion to another busy day of caucuses and other delegate activities.

Overall, Mills said the entire experience has been simply "amazing."

"I''ve watched it for years, and it''s still just kind of amazing to actually be present on the floor," she said. "It''s such an incredible feeling."