Guests gather to honor Sandoval at inaugural ball

The Southern Nevada inaugural ball took place Jan. 28 at Wynn Las Vegas. Tickets to attend a private VIP party and to have a photo taken with Gov. Brian Sandoval before the ball went for $1,000, or invited guests could pay $100 for a ticket to attend just the ball.

The Lafitte ballroom was decorated in all-white flowers, consisting of lilies, orchids, hydrangeas and gold curly willow on the 168 dining tables.

The black-tie affair began with a cocktail reception and entertainment by barbershop quartet OC Times. Master of ceremonies was Kendall Tenney.

The program began with the quartet singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," followed by a prayer by the Rev. Michael Rochelle.

Numerous buffets throughout the ballroom were decorated with long-stem white blossoms, surrounded by tall crystal hurricane votives holding white candles. The dinner buffets offered lobster bisque, salad, vegetable, potatoes, entrees of chicken breast, braised short rib, fish, ravioli, and an array of desserts.

Faith Lutheran Junior-Senior High School students Hannah Guinn and Daniel Emmet Shipley sang "This is the Moment." Former first lady and the ball's honorary chairwoman Dema Guinn introduced first lady Kathleen Sandoval.

A video preceded Gov. Sandoval's entrance to the stage, from where he addressed the guests. The Sandovals' first dance was "Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now." Harbor Lights offered music for dancing.

The ball's commemorative gift was note cards featuring a pencil rendering of the Governor's Mansion by Reno artist Rory Powers.

Seen among the congressional and legislative members and past governors were guests Maria and Ted Quirk, Fafie and Jeff Moore, Steve Schorr, Karen and Morgan Cashman, Bill Brady, Susan and Thom Schoemen, Nancy and Owen Justice, Sandy Peltyn, Joan LeMere, Denise and Stan Olsen, Jeanne Greenawalt and Irwin Kishner, Rene and John O'Reilly, Shirley Blair, Lea Roberts-Fleming and Steve Fleming, David Funderlich, Gloria Wilmot, Yvonne and Tom Schuman, Steve Sisolak and Kathleen Boutin, Siegfried Fischbacher, Roy Horn, Parvin Jacobs, Camelia and Adrian Bratu, Angie Wallin, Leslie and Tom Thomas, Virginia Valentine, Isabel Pfeifer, Lynette Chappell, Maria and Tony Alamo, Heather and Louis Valera, Janet and Steve Linder, Joel Bergman, Julie and Vince Shaffer, Kara Gilday, Kim Maxon-Rushton and Ric Rushton.

A portion of the ball funds will benefit Quest Counseling & Consulting of Reno, Community Chest of Virginia City and Bridge Counseling Associates of Las Vegas.