The Big Story Assignment: Groundhog Day

All of us here in the newsroom know the story: Every Feb. 2, the famous Pennsylvanian groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his den at Gobblers Knob to predict either the coming of spring or the continuation of winter. Ok, so Punxsutawney Phil is a big name celebrity, but we don’t take much notice of those men in top hats in the background. They are called the Inner Circle and they’re the local dignitaries that basically keep this tradition up and running. They plan events, feed and care for Phil and reportedly even speak to him in the secret Groundhogese language. So we know what the Inner Circle is and what they do on a basic level, but what I want is a behind-the-scenes look at their vocational tradition. What are they up to and how do they keep Phil preoccupied the 364 days out of the year he's not in use? I want to know who these men are, why and how they became initiated into the Inner Circle, and how long they’ve been doing it for.

So what’s the story here? Who are the members of the Inner Circle that keep this tradition long-lasting?