Final tickets drawn for Mortenson appearance

As name after name was read Tuesday night in the drawing for tickets to see Greg Mortenson, Carson City's Roberta Martinoni hoped hers would be one of them.

"Oh, big time," she said.

Martinoni learned of Mortenson's visit to Carson City as part of the Capital City Reads initiative the day after tickets to the event were given away. That same day, she entered her name in the drawing to meet the author of "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time," who will be visiting the city as part of the community reading project.

"I had read the books several years before, and I thought it would be great to meet the actual author," she said.

Because the library ran out of tickets, organizers planned to give away more tickets before the March 9 appearance.

Although organizers planned to give 50 tickets, 69 were handed out after Tuesday's presentation by Ruth Ann Kocour of her travels in Pakistan.

The first ticket went to Jackie Knister of Carson City.

"It was great to get another chance," Knister said. "I'm very enthusiastic about what (Mortenson's) done."

Her only other wish was that her husband could attend with her.

It wasn't much longer when Jim Knister's name was called.

"Now we can go together," he told his wife.

Stephanie Gabler entered her name on a whim Tuesday night, and it paid off when she was called.

"I haven't read the book yet, but I'm going to get it and read it right away," she said.

Martinoni wasn't as lucky. She waited until the last ticket was handed out, but never heard her name.

"It's a lottery, so you take your chances," she consoled herself.

But it wasn't a total waste, she said.

"It was great to come and see (Kocour) tonight and hear about her new adventures," Martinoni said. "It was very good."

Those who were not in attendance will be notified by telephone if their names were drawn.