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Coronavirus concerns nix documentary premiere

ATHENS — The premiere of a documentary about Gallipolis, Ohio, will be rescheduled because of concerns with the COVID-19 coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday.

“Our Town: Gallipolis” was originally scheduled to debut March 22 at Gallia Academy High School. The show will be rescheduled and additional details will be announced in the future, WOUB Public Media said.

The hour-long documentary, one in the Our Town historical documentary series about Ohio communities in the Appalachian region, is about the history of Gallipolis, including the 1913 flood, the Silver Bridge collapse, its connection to the sinking of the Titanic and Gallipolis’ notable residents like Bob Evans and Grandma Gatewood.

WOUB is following the recommendations from Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio University President Duane Nellis about the coronavirus outbreak, WOUB said.

“We are saddened to have to cancel this premiere screening because we know it’s important to the community in Gallipolis,” WOUB General Manager Mark Brewer said. “But, Gov. DeWine is recommending that organizers of any events involving a large gathering of individuals in close proximity be canceled or postponed, and it was the responsible decision to cancel the March event and look to reschedule.”

WOUB also will reschedule the television premiere of the program, originally set to air at 8 p.m. March 23.

“We want the people in Gallipolis to be the first to see it at a premiere screening event,” Brewer said. “We are working with Gallia Academy High School to find a date to reschedule the in-person screening, and once that date is set, we will schedule the documentary to air on WOUB TV shortly after.”

The Gallipolis film is the seventh historical documentary in WOUB’s Our Town series. The series is produced and directed by 13-time Emmy Award winner and a southeastern Ohio native Evan Shaw.

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding, as this is a unique situation,” said Brewer.

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