_ Wid.. World PI'otos _ Wide World Photos STATE SCENE The "Land of Opportunity" played catch-up again this year as Governor Bill Clinton showed eve ry determination to pull Arkansas up from the basement ranks in public education. He appointed an Education Standard Committee to make some inquiries and tough recommendations . A special session of the legislature was called and turned out to be the longest in the state's history: six weeks. Before it adjourned, it put its stamp of approval on the governor's educational package, including a 1 % sales tax which will bring over $150 million in to the state coffer to be used in upgrading public education. The governor angered both the Arkansas Educati on Association and the National Educa tion Associat ion members by insisting that teachers be given compe tency tests. The attention of the nation focused June 3 on the "Wonder State" when the local constabulary moved in on a farmhouse near Smithfield where Gordon Kahl, a 63-year old retired farmer and member of Posse Comitatus (a paramilitary group opposed to federal taxa tion ) was holding up. Kahl was wanted by the fede ral authorities in connection with a shootout in North Dakota where a U.S. Marshall and his deputy were killed. Shots were fired, and the sheriff was killed . Tear gas was lobbed into the house. A fire ensued, and Kahl's charred body was discovered in the remains. He had been shot in the exchange. Mary Lee Orsini captured the headlines again. While serving a life sentence in connection with the death of Alice McArthur, she was also charged and found guilty in the slaying of her husband, William. She is now serving concurrently two life sentences without parole. On March 25, 41 students and teachers bound by bus fo r the "Skilled Olympics" of the Arkansas Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in little Rock missed a turn on Highway 214 at Uno in Poinsett Count y. Of the 29 who were injured, five teachers and four students were killed. The National Transportation Board determined the driver was exceeding the speed limit. The weather again played a dominant role in the state. A prolonged drought ruined crops in la te summer and ice storms paralyzed all activity as 1984 was get ting underway. While some were "losi ng their shirts" in the parched fields, Sam Walton of Bentonville "':1 <; wa lking in high dover. Dun and Bradstreet listed his company, the Wal-Mart Stores, as one of the five best managed in America. Forbes magazine also proclaimed Walton as the second richest man in the nation. Arkansas is the "Land of Opportunity. " 1. New York, N.Y., May 25. The 1z ight sky is illuminated by a shower of fireworks ill celebratiol1 of the Brooklyn Bridge 's lOOth birthday party. 2. Charleston, S.c., Oct. 26. All evacuee of Grenada pauses to k iss the ground after landing at tile C/lariestoll Air Force Base. Many medical stu;ients from the United States were flown to safety after the U.S. troops invaded the islal/d. 3. Houston, TX. Astronauts Sally K. Ride and Guion S. Bluford made space history. Ride was tlze first woman to go up in space Ofl Shu ttle - Dr. RaymOlld Muncy Fliglzt Seven, and Bluford was the first black into space o/z Slzu ttle Fliglzt Eight. 4. Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 17. Vmzessa Williams (left>. the flew Miss America, is slzoll.m as size is crowned by the outgoing Miss America , Debra Maffett. This is the first time tllat a black woman has won tile contest. 5. Baseball Great Retires. Cincinnati Reds Johnny Belzeiz tips his hat to tile fans after playing Izis final game. He played over twenty years for the Reds. Wo rld News 39
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