PDT Staff Report

A feature story on Southern Ohio Museum's Cirque d'Art Theatre program will air Wednesday, on WOWK-TV Channel 13, in Huntington, W.Va., a CBS affiliate. The story is scheduled to be shown between 5:50 and 6 a.m., and then again between 6:50 and 7 a.m. The story also will begin to appear on the WOWK Web site, www.wowktv.com, at 9 a.m.

Craig McKee, of the Channel 13 news team, contacted Southern Ohio Museum in response to an e-mail he received from museum employee Kenny Wells, detailing many benefits Cirque brings to the local community.

On April 10, McKee and his news crew visited the Cirque d'Art studio, located at the corner of Lawson and 11th streets in Portsmouth. There, he filmed the elite Hi Jynx troupe practicing for its June performances at Portsmouth West High School. McKee also took the time to speak with class members and staff, including Cirque director and museum employee, Pegi Wilkes.

"It is a real honor to have Channel 13 feature our program and participants," Wilkes said. "We are immensely proud of the work we do, and it is gratifying to know that people out there have noticed."

Southern Ohio Museum acknowledges operating support from the Scioto Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and the museum's individual and corporate members.

The museum is located at 825 Gallia St. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays. Admission is free.

Visit www.somacc.com or call (740) 354-5629 for more information. School and group tours of the museum are available on request. To schedule a group tour, contact Wilkes at pegi@somacc.com, or Lauralee Webster at lauralee@somacc.com.