LITTLE ROCK — GIRL ON A MISSION:
Amanda Winters of Little Rock is only 15, but the Parkview High sophomore is already doing her part to try to help others less fortunate than herself.
Working with Trinity United Methodist Church, Second Chance Foundation and Arkansas Supportive Housing Network, Amanda is working to help the homeless - most recently by holding a "Picnic in the Park" for the homeless last Saturday in MacArthur Park.
A year earlier, Amanda worked with her school to hold a similar event for the homeless.
Last weekend's event was a joint effort by Amanda, who attends Trinity United Methodist Church, and the church's youth director, Jamey Bentley.
The church donated all of the food, including more than 300 pounds of meat, and at the picnic more than 400 homeless people were fed hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, baked beans, chips and dessert.
HEART AND SEOUL:
Steve Stephens of Little Rock will travel to Seoul, South Korea, early next month.
Stephens, a former Marine, was invited by that country's President Roh Moo-hyun to join other former Marines who were in Korea 54 years ago when the armistice that ended the Korean War was signed.
During the week-long celebration of appreciation beginning Nov. 6, Stephens and other Marines representing all 50 U.S. states will be presented medals by the country's president and the former commandant of the Marine Corps.
WHERE THE BLACK FERN GOES:
Straight to the top as a cover girl. Fern, a 10-year-old border collie, is on the cover of TurfNet magazine's 2007 Superintendent's Best Friend Calendar.
Fern works at Little Rock's Rebsamen Golf Course and was chosen, along with 13 other dogs, to appear in the golf course maintenance industry magazine's calendar from 168 submissions.
So what does Fern do?
Besides looking adorable in photos? She's been specially trained to herd geese without harming them, and she works like a dog (sorry) to keep the golf course and other cityowned properties geese-free.
GOOD SHOW:
Paige Oden of Little Rock did well in the Orpheum Theatre's 2007 Star Search this past Saturday in Memphis. Paige, a Sheridan High graduate who grew up singing gospel with her family, narrowly missed placing in the top three.
HITTING THE BIG TIME:
Former Semisonic rock band member Dan Wilson's new album Free Life gets a review in the current issue of Time magazine. Wilson's parents, mom Ginger and dad I. Dodd Wilson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, must be mighty proud.
Paper Trails readers first learned of Wilson's musical accomplishments back in February, when he won a Grammy for co-writing the Dixie Chicks' tune "Not Ready to Make Nice," which won in the song and record of the year categories.
Dan, who lives Minneapolis, was first nominated for a Grammy back in 1999 for Semisonic's smash hit "Closing Time." Paper Trails appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Contact Linda Caillouet at (501) 399-3636 or at lcaillouet@arkansasonline.com.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 10/24/2007