Lt. Col. Steve Sikes, from left, Teresa Koch, Col. Terrence Fornof and Kayla Fornof attend the inaugural ball. The officers are members of the Nevada National Guard. Libby Bjerke, from left, Chuck Muth and Mary Orrico check out the scene during the inaugural ball. Gov. Jim Gibbons and first lady Dawn Gibbons are introduced at the inaugural ball Friday at The Venetian. Dawn Gibbons is wearing a burgundy velvet gown with matching jacket by Giorgio Armani. Photos by Marian Umhoefer. Lea Roberts, left, welcomes Linda Smith to the inaugural ball at The Venetian. Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and his wife, Kelly, are introduced during the inaugural ball at The Venetian. Sue and Paul Lowden are among the guests. Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, take part in the inaugural festivities at the hotel.

The Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian was decked out in the state's colors of blue and silver Friday for the first of two inaugural balls honoring Gov. Jim Gibbons, first lady Dawn Gibbons and members of the Legislature.

The walls of the room were washed in blue and white lighting with enlarged state seals. The stage was draped in blue with silver bunting and served as the room's focal point.

The tables were covered with blue cloths with silver chairs. Centerpieces were mixed with tall silver candelabra topped with bouquets of white roses or shorter glass bowls filled with white roses and gardenias. Rose petals also were scattered across the tables.

The buffet circled large mesquite trees sprayed silver with hanging crystals dangling from the branches as well as silver ribbons holding glass bowls containing votive candles.

The buffet stations also were decorated with large ice carvings in the shapes of the state, the state seal and a soaring jet plane symbolizing Gibbons' career as a combat pilot in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars and tenure as vice commander of the Nevada Air National Guard.

The buffet offered canapes, cheeses and assorted sliced fruit and plates of antipasto. Cooking stations had chefs preparing chicken diablo, tortellini, penne pasta, chicken tenders and potato croquettes. Carving stations offered seared beef tenderloin, turkey and pork served with condiments.

Guests socialized until the start of the event's program, which began with a drum roll by the Vince Falcone Orchestra, which was under the direction of Walter Boenig. Las Vegas Inaugural Ball Chairwoman Lea Roberts and Sig Rogich, inaugural statewide chairman, announced the evening's festivities.

Roberts and Rogich introduced the members of the state Senate in attendance: Majority Leader Bill Raggio, Dennis Nolan, Joseph J. Heck, Bob Beers, Warren B. Hardy and Randolph Townsend.

On hand from the state Assembly were Garn Mabey, Valerie E. Weber, Joe Hardy, Heidi S. Gansert, Francis Allen, Morse Arberry Jr., Bob Beers, Chad Christensen, Ty Cobb, Ed Goedhart, Harvey J. Munford and Lynn D. Stewart.

State officials attending were Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and Supreme Court Justice Michael L. Douglas, and from the Congressional delegation was Sen. John Ensign.

Also introduced was former Gov. Robert List.

Their spouses were presented with a dozen white roses when they walked across the stage to be introduced.

Members of the governor's family introduced were daughter Jennifer and her husband, Rick Rich, and their daughter, Riley; and Dawn Gibbons' sister, Sandy, and husband Joe Waite, and their son, Randy.

Last to be introduced were the governor and first lady.

The invocation was delivered by the Rev. Gregory Gordon of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Adding to the entertainment during the event were the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Band under the direction of Patrick Bowen and pianist David Osborne.

As guests departed at the ball's conclusion they were presented with an inaugural memento of a silver monogrammed world-time clock.

The Northern Nevada inaugural ball took place Tuesday at the Silver Legacy Resort in Reno.