'Now Entering Portland' to air June 9

“Now Entering Portland” drew a round of applause Wednesday after a sneak peek screening at Arts Place.
“Very educational,” said Jim Bob McEwen, one of more than a dozen storytellers who took part in the program. “Very well done.”
The finished program will air at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, on WIPB-TV, channel 49, at Ball State University during the station’s pledge week.
Portland area residents will be manning telephones and helping with the broadcast that night. Those who make donations to help support the Public Television station will receive a DVD copy of “Now Entering Portland” that includes bonus footage.
The project has been months in the making, with WIPB first contacting local officials and the Jay County Chamber of Commerce in December of 2015.
Two days of interviews took place and hundreds of photos, videos, and audio recordings were collected to tell Portland stories.
“You’ve done a wonderful, wonderful job,” said Al Rent, executive director and general manager of WIPB, Wednesday. “I was totally amazed at the stories.”
Director Michelle Kinsey and producer Sam Clemmons echoed Rent’s comments.
“I can’t tell you how excited we are. We were so impressed,” said Kinsey.
“Now Entering Portland” is intended to be the first in a series “celebrating our small towns one story at a time.”
Though the project is still undergoing final edits, Clemmons said it’s “an almost-done production.”
“I think you’re going to be pleased,” he said. “I enjoyed learning about your town. It’s a cool place.”