Sarah Hollister
Weekend Reporter and News Anchor
Fairbanks, Alaska
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Sarah Hollister is a lifelong Alaskan. She was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska and attended North Pole High School.
She spent some time working in the fashion and design industry in New York City and Los Angeles before returning home to be closer to family.
She has studied journalism at the University of Alaska Fairbanks before beginning her career at KTVF.
She has covered a wide array of stories including, trial court, crime, education, health, social justice, garden and agriculture, and community features.
Sarah lives in Fairbanks with her husband and daughter and enjoys paddle boarding, gardening and painting in her spare time.
She loves to hear from her community so reach out anytime.
Education
Awards
Updated: Apr. 10, 2021 at 6:31 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
The Noble Paws staff are experienced dog mushers trained to work with special needs and disabled populations. The dogs are regarded as ‘service’ dogs and provide physical assistance, fellowship, and an emotional connection for the participant. They also offer wheelchair-accessible dog sleds.
Updated: Apr. 2, 2021 at 10:00 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Community members rallied near downtown Fairbanks Friday in hopes of spreading awareness of a massive missing-persons search scheduled for breakup.
Updated: Mar. 27, 2021 at 4:46 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Ernest Burggraf went missing on March 19th, 2021. He was last seen near the Fairbanks Resource Agency after getting off a late-night janitorial shift. His car was found with the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition.
Updated: Mar. 26, 2021 at 1:52 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Missing person Steven Hjelm, 54, was found dead yesterday near the Week Field Estate Apartments. He has been missing since January 9th after leaving his sister’s apartment near South Cushman.
Updated: Mar. 20, 2021 at 9:53 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Willis Derendoff has been missing since November of 2020. The Alaska State Troopers are investigating this case as a homicide. There is a $7,500 reward for information leading to his whereabouts.
Updated: Mar. 8, 2021 at 9:46 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Doren Sanford was last heard from in late August of 2020. His case is being investigated as a homicide.
Updated: Feb. 27, 2021 at 6:35 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
It’s been almost a year since the first COVID-19 case was discovered in Alaska. Non-profit Love INC says more money for rent and past-due electric bills is available for those impacted by the virus.
Updated: Feb. 2, 2021 at 3:19 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
For 20 years Lesa Sears supported her husband in his career, raised their five children, and helped her family achieve their dreams. Now it's her turn to shine.
Updated: Jan. 30, 2021 at 5:02 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Steven Hjelm, 54, went missing on January 9th after leaving his sister’s house on 16th Avenue, headed towards a corner store on foot. He has not been heard from since that day.
Updated: Jan. 29, 2021 at 4:48 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Steven Hjelm, 54, went missing on January 9th after leaving his sister’s apartment on 16th avenue near South Cushman Street.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2021 at 5:02 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Johnathan Nakarak was found Wednesday after an anonymous tipster notified the Alaska State Troopers that he was staying in Salcha.
Updated: Jan. 23, 2021 at 7:21 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
A vigil was held in Fairbanks for the high number of missing persons. Families pleaded with law enforcement to call on the F.B.I. for help.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2021 at 8:55 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Paul “The Polar Bear” Varelans lost his battle with the Coronavirus over the weekend.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2021 at 6:39 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
The group known as “Safe Reopening of Schools,” is asking the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board to delay the start of in-person learning.
Updated: Dec. 26, 2020 at 5:18 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Want something fun and safe to do this holiday break? Take a drive through the Westgate and Taku neighborhood to see the 'Christmas Light Competition.'
Updated: Dec. 19, 2020 at 5:12 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
A sign that reads "IRENES WAY" was gifted to the Fairbanks Community and Dog Mushing Museum Saturday afternoon. Museum Docent, Karen Norris, hope to collect more Irene Sherman memorabilia in order to create an exhibit.
Updated: Dec. 12, 2020 at 4:55 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski issued a statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
Updated: Dec. 5, 2020 at 5:20 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Turning a negative into a positive. That’s what Jonathan “Johnny” Johnson did when he found himself without work, recovering from caner treatment. After seeing his first magnet fishing video, he was hooked.
Updated: Nov. 28, 2020 at 7:19 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
In honor of National Native American Heritage month, we are featuring several Indigenous owned businesses to support in this holiday season.
Updated: Nov. 21, 2020 at 8:07 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Willis Derendoff, 34, has been missing since November 10th. His family is pleading for his safe return home. Anyone with information is asked to call the Alaska State Troopers 24-hour tip line at (907) 371-9989
Updated: Nov. 20, 2020 at 5:04 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Willis Derendoff hasn’t been heard from since Tuesday, November 10th. He traveled from Huslis to Fairbanks and had a room at the Extended Stay America Hotel in Fairbanks. Anyone with information is asked to call the 24/7 tipline at 907-371-9989.
Updated: Nov. 14, 2020 at 5:17 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
Willis Derendoff, 34, is between 5′7″ and 5′10″ tall, weighs 160 pounds and has black-brown hair and brown eyes. He is an Alaskan Native originally from Huslia. Derendoff was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, red sleeper fleece pants and a possible beanie.
Updated: Nov. 14, 2020 at 5:02 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
On November 6th Josh Revak attended a birthday party at a south Anchorage Restaurant for a political consultant. U.S. Representative Don young was also there, who tested positive for the virus on November 12th.
Updated: Nov. 7, 2020 at 6:15 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
The day was first recognized by the Inuit Circumpolar Council General Assembly in Utqiagvik. The November 7th date honors the birthday of an Inuit Circumpolar Council visionary, Eben Hopson Senior.
Updated: Nov. 7, 2020 at 5:01 PM AKST
|By Sarah Hollister
A U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of California ruled Thursday the Food and Drug Administration violated core environmental laws in approving genetically engineered or G.E. salmon.
Updated: Oct. 31, 2020 at 5:07 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
During the month of October the Fairbanks Community Food Bank has challenged law enforcement professionals to collect food bank donations in a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money.
Updated: Oct. 24, 2020 at 6:58 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Fairbanks Correctional Center reported 55 inmates and one staff member have tested positive for Coronavirus. Inmates have voiced concerns about correctional officers not wearing masks, not getting the results of their Covid-19 tests, not having enough access to soap, and not being able to communicate with family members.
Updated: Oct. 17, 2020 at 5:15 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday the Alaska State Troopers took Mark Emery Heinz into custody without incident near mile 131 of the Richardson Highway.
Updated: Oct. 17, 2020 at 5:02 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
After two residents tested positive for the virus the department of Health and Social Services conducted mass resident testing on October 1st and subsequent testing on October 8th. This is according to a statement released by GEO Reentry who operates the residential center on behalf of the Department of Corrections.
Updated: Oct. 10, 2020 at 5:15 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Several groups in Alaska are gearing up to celebrate the upcoming Monday holiday, Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Updated: Oct. 3, 2020 at 6:24 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
The city of Fairbanks put out a public notice on their plans to demolish the downtown Polaris Building in 2021. The old hotel located at 427 1st avenue has been an eyesore to many over last 18 years it has been vacated.
Updated: Oct. 3, 2020 at 5:35 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Community members got some sunshine and enjoyed this unusually warm fall weather with a visit to the pumpkin patch and looking zoo at the Fairgrounds Saturday afternoon.
Updated: Sep. 26, 2020 at 5:11 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
In a story we aired last week, Peter Horace-Wright’s mother, Bernadette Demientieff, called for Ryder Smith’s father, Robert Smith, to be held accountable in the murder of her son. We follow up with the Alaska State Troopers on what exactly happened that night and what a person's legal responsibility is if they know about a crime.
Updated: Sep. 25, 2020 at 4:11 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Peter Charles Edwin was sentenced to 50 years behind bars Friday morning for 2nd degree sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 13 from 2017.
Updated: Sep. 19, 2020 at 5:27 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
On September 11th Edith Kockrine was cleaning out her car at Bently Car Wash when she accidently threw a bag of her daughter’s handmade beading earrings into the trash.
Updated: Sep. 19, 2020 at 5:15 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Fort Wainwright marked the completion of the first of two bridge projects on the installation with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday.
Updated: Sep. 17, 2020 at 5:31 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Peter Horace-Wright was allegedly shot to death by Ryder Alan Smith at a towing business in November of last year. The 11 minutes between the gun shots and Ryder Smith calling the police, Smith can be heard calling his father. Ryder Smith faces first degree murder charges, but Peter Horace-Wright's family is calling on the justice system to make Smith's father accountable as well.
Updated: Sep. 12, 2020 at 4:58 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Dolls with varying skin tones and books featuring diverse protagonists will be given away Sunday for free at the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds.
Updated: Sep. 12, 2020 at 4:55 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Community members stepped out in support of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer scavenger hunt Saturday afternoon.
Updated: Sep. 5, 2020 at 4:31 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Rain and cold didn't stop around 20 masked volunteers from helping harvest The Stone Soup Community Garden Saturday afternoon.
Updated: Sep. 5, 2020 at 4:28 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Around 3:30 Saturday morning the Alaska State Troopers received multiple reports of a crash near the Chena Pump Road and Chena Ridge Road intersection.
Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 at 5:06 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
A little over a month ago, Kristen Elizabeth and her six children in North Pole found a bee at the door who couldn’t fly. They even tried to clean the wings, but still no luck.
Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 at 5:04 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Almost six miles down Eielson Farm Road is one of the interiors best kept secrets. We take you to Arctic Harvest, a farm that does it all, grows grain, malts barley and even barrels then serves world-class spirits.
Updated: Aug. 29, 2020 at 6:47 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Veterans were able to access basic necessities and housing solutions at today’s “Veteran One Stop,” held at Stone Soup garden Saturday afternoon.
Updated: Aug. 29, 2020 at 5:34 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
37 University of Alaska Fairbanks students have been quarantined -- including the entire Nanook Hockey Team.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2020 at 6:42 AM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Thursday evening a North Pole homeowner hit the pressure valve of their underground propane tank, prompting officials to ask some nearby residents to evacuate and some to shelter in place.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2020 at 10:42 AM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
Frank Minano Jr. was reported missing on August 17th. Family members say he was lost in the woods on Standard Creek Road near Old Nenana Highway by the "Monument".
Updated: Aug. 22, 2020 at 4:58 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
US Representative Don Young released a video statement today after saying he voted for the "Delivering for America Act." Young says this bill is a short term fix.
Updated: Aug. 21, 2020 at 4:09 PM AKDT
|By Sarah Hollister
The Fairbanks Heart Walk steps off virtually tomorrow to celebrate heart and stroke survivors and raise money for The American Heart Association.