_ HIJrle.HlJnks CommunlclJUons Inc. Miss America Elizabeth Ward Arkansas'S1 1 From being the home state of the new Miss America, to housing hundreds of Cuban refugees at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas captured the spotlight in the news many times during 1981. For the first time since the late sixties, a Republican defeated an incumbant Demo· cratic governor for the highest office in the state. Frank White who was virtually unknown upset Bill Clinton in one of the most surprising gubnatoria l races in the country, The state welcomed home Steve Kirtley and Robert Blucker , two Arkansans who had been held hostage 444 days in Iran. Prison overcrowding and un· oonstitutional conditions Drought attention to Cummins State Correctiona l Unit. Pulaski County Sherriff Tommy Robert· son and County Judge Bill Beaumont took two opposite sides on the administration of the Pulaski County jai I. The obsolete 1874 statute within our state constitution that sets a limit on interest rates at ten percent continues to put a tremendous strain on Arkan· sas business activities. The eyes of the nation focus· ed ·on Little Rock during the month of December to view the eight and half day State Supreme Court battle between the Arkansas Creation Science Law and the American Civil Liberties Union. During the 1981 Arkansas Legislative Sessio'} lawmakers introduced a bill to require all public schools that teach eyolu· tion to give rei balanced treat· ment to the "scientific evidence" supprting creation science. The bill, known as Act 590, was~ passed in the Legislature and Governor Frank White signed his support to the proposal. However, the ACLU of Arkansas immediately filed a _ Wide World Photos I. A MAN in an Egyptian army uniform fires a submaohine gun al pOintblank range inlo :a reviewing sland where President Anwar Sadal was assassinated and at least five others kiffed, October 6. 2. A HAND· GUN, circled at left, is pOinted at Pope John Paull/during an assassination aHempt ir Sl. Peter's Square, May 13. 3·5. IpRESIDENT Ronald Reagan waves, then looks up before being shoved into a limousine by Secret Service agents after being shot outside a holel on March 30. suit against the state challeng. ing the new law as being un· constitutional. Federal Judge William Over· ton ruled on January sixth the creation science law was un· constitutional. The hearts of all America and judges were captured by Elizabeth Ward of Russellville as she was named the new Miss America in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She returned to the state for the first time since she received the crown just in time to call the Hogs and see the Razorbacks beat Texas 42 · 11. _ E. C. Umberger, Byron Carlock World News·45
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