POMEROY — “A Night under a Thousand Stars” will be the theme of the 2009 Meigs High School prom to be held Saturday night on a party sternwheeler while cruising the Ohio River.

Boarding will be at the Pomeroy levee with a formal walk-in and introduction beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m. when the boat begins the excursion. The crowning of this year’s king and queen will take place on the boat prior to returning to the levee at 11:30 p.m. An after-prom party will take place in the Meigs High School gymnasium from 12 to 2:30 p.m.

Candidates for king and queen were announced this week. Queen candidates are Catie Wolfe, Lucreshia Howard, Laura Gheen, Adrian Bolin, Jamie Bailey, and Kerri VanReeth. King candidates are Clay Bolin, Mason Metts, Josh Cleland, Chad Bonnett, Crockett Crow, and Ernie Welsh.

As an accommodation and to assure safety of the students, Pomeroy Mayor John Musser has asked that only those students attending the prom park on the parking lot.

Family and friends will find adequate parking on the streets, at the Farmers Bank lot, and at the lot near the ball fields just a block away from downtown, said Musser, noting that barriers will be in place at entrances to the parking lot. He urged cooperation from the public citing his concern for the students and their safety since they will be returning to the levee well after dark.

He said additional police officers will be on hand and that an officer will be at the levee to be sure no alcohol is taken onboard. Additionally there will be four flaggers wearing safety vests and carrying red flags to assist students, family members and others in crossing streets to get to the parking lot.

“What we want to do,” said the mayor, “is just to make it nice for the students attending the prom. We want it be a safe, fun and very special night for them.”