D -.. .. ..... ' - ...... , ..... " - .. ..... \ 21_ • , ....... _ Wide world Pholos STATE PERSPECTIVE Beautiful ladies and exc iting politics brought the state of Arkansas to nationa l attention in 1982 . The state en joyed a unique honor since it was the home of both Miss Ame rica and Miss U.S.A. Elizabeth Ward of Russellville. chosen in 1981, reigned as M iss Ame rica, and Terri Utley of Cabot was c hosen Mis s U.S.A., t he nati on's representative in the Miss Universe Pageant. Political excitement began early in the yea r as candidates and issues became the subjec t of normal election-year controve rsy. After the May primaries , the choices for the gubernato ri al race we re incumbent Republican Governor Frank White and former Democratic governor Bill Clinton. Clinto n emerged victorious on November 2. The Congress ional del ega tion remained unchanged. Of spec ial notoriety was the fact that Arkansas' 1874 usury l aw was rev ised with the passage of Amendment 60, the In· terest Rate Control Amendment. Needed to free up money and cred it in the state, Amendment 60 all owed financial inst itu· t ions to lend money at a rate above the previous interest restriction of 10 percent. The usually beautiful Arkansas wea ther demonstrated its destructive powers as the year drew to a close. In December, thousands of northern Arkansas citizens were forced to seek refuge from disastrous floods and tornadoes. The c ity of Clinton was under 10 feet of water in its downtown area, and on ly rooftops cou ld be seen at t he Jacksonport area of Newpor t. The small town of Rosebud was demo lished as a tornado left but a few Tornados, high winds and rain destroyed many structures standing, and the towns of communities across the state of Arkansas in Augusta and McCrory experienced exten- December. A tornado lef t this home in Rosebud sive damage from tornadoes and high missing part of its roof. winds. ~ - Byron Carlock and Bfair Bryan World News/41
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==