LITTLE ROCK — HER FIRST ASSIGNMENT:
When Chelsea Clinton debuts, alongside news veteran Ted Koppel, on Rock Center with Brian Williams at 9 p.m. tomorrow, what will she focus on for her first report as a special correspondent for the newsmagazine?
Annette Dove of Pine Bluff, who founded TOPPS (Targeting Our People’s Priorities with Service). Dove operates after-school and summer programs for needy children.
Then at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Chelsea will be on PBS hosting the Live From Lincoln Center premiere of New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
SAD NEWS: Michelle Duggar of Tontitown, who stars in a TLC reality TV show with her 19 children and husband Jim Bob and recently announced she was pregnant again, has miscarried.
The Duggars, who’ve repeatedly proclaimed they’d gladly accept as many children as God gave them, have now faced two difficult pregnancies in a row. Their youngest, Josie, was born prematurely in September 2009 and had health complications.
LOCAL TV: Becky Comet, 51 and a Benton teacher on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, another reality TV show, made it to the final four this season but was eliminated last week.
On ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, this season’s winner, actor J.R. Martinez (All My Children), has an Arkansas connection. The Shreveport native lived in Hope from age 9 until 17.
In 2003, Martinez suffered burns on more than 40 percent of his body while an infantryman in the U.S. Army in Iraq.
Since recovering, the 28-year-old has worked as a motivational speaker and appeared in The Washington Post and on CBS’ 60 Minutes, and will be the 2012 Rose Parade’s grand marshal.
ECONOMIC LOSSES? The Salvation Army reports that its annual Angel Tree adoptions, which provide toys and clothing for children in need, are slower this year, causing volunteers waiting to fill boxes at the distribution center to have their shifts canceled. Today is the last day for angels to be adopted from the trees in Park Plaza, McCain Mall and participating Wal-Mart stores.
In another sign of tough times, “Tales of the Crypt,” a living history performance held at Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock in October for the past 17 years by Parkview Arts Science Magnet High School students, may end.
“We’re now at a critical situation,” says Kay Tatum of the Mount Holly Association. The association needs to raise funds to repair costumes, rent buses, print programs and feed students on practice day.
AMY’S HOMECOMING:
Former Little Rock resident Amy Lee is bringing her rock band, Evanescence, to Verizon Arena in North Little Rock on Jan. 21, according to pollstar.com.
Contact Linda Caillouet at (501) 399-3636 or at lcaillouet @arkansasonline.com.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 12/11/2011