Sarah Ralston

SARAH RALSTON An Emmy-award winning journalist who also helped bring the City of Asylum writers program to Nevada, Sarah Ellen Ralston died Nov. 23, 2011, after a brief illness. She was born and raised in Madison, Wis., and moved to Las Vegas in 1986. She worked at two Las Vegas television stations - Channel 13 and Channel 3 - winning an Emmy in 1990 at Channel 3. She was a popular anchorwoman/reporter who also started a series about health violations at local restaurants. After her television career, she helped John Ensign pull off one of the biggest upsets in Nevada history in 1994, when he won a seat in Congress. She later became an executive with Mandalay Resort Group and also was instrumental in creating the nation's first City of Asylum, where exiled writers could find safe haven. She later worked for Americorps, helping to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She was preceded in death by her mother, Sally Hoeveler. Sarah is survived by her daughter, Madeline Sonja; father, David Hoeveler; brother, Andy (Jessica); sister, Amy (Jim) Onofrey; and nephews, Andy and Mark Onofrey. There will be a memorial, 2-5 p.m., at Mandalay Bay, Tradewinds EF, on Saturday, Dec. 10. Thoughts and memories are welcome at 3 p.m. Contributions may be made to Americorps.