Overwhelming response seen for inaugural balls

CARSON CITY -- The balls this weekend to celebrate the inauguration of Gov. Kenny Guinn have become the hot ticket in town. So much so that the inaugural committee extended the deadline to purchase advance tickets to Wednesday and is allowing admission to be paid at the door.

By Friday, two days after the original advance-purchase deadline, more than 6,000 people had signed up and paid $40 to attend the balls in Reno on Friday and Las Vegas on Saturday.

"There's a ton of people who want to go," Chris Vlautin, a committee spokesman, said.

The Southern Nevada ball Saturday will be at the MGM Grand Conference Center beginning at 8:30 p.m. The Reno ball on Friday will be at the Reno Hilton pavilion beginning at 7 p.m.

"We didn't want to turn anybody away," Vlautin said. The deadline for submitting checks was Jan. 20, but the committee was so overwhelmed with requests that the deadline was moved and the policy changed to allow admissions to be paid at the door.

John Daly, host of the syndicated television show "Real TV," will be master of ceremonies at each event. Black tie is optional.

Entertainment will be provided by the Maguire Sisters and a 22-piece orchestra. Guinn and his wife, Dema, danced to the Maguire Sisters on their wedding night 42 years ago in Reno.

Hors d'oeuvres, international coffees and dessert will be served. Champagne and wine will be available.

Vlautin said the committee has received 3,000 to 3,500 checks each for the Las Vegas and the Reno affairs. He said anyone who wants advance tickets can submit checks by Wednesday to Rogich Communications Group, 3980 Howard Hughes Pkwy., Suite 550, Las Vegas, NV 89109.

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