Local and World News Prominent events capture the eyes of the world W hen President Reagan defeated Democratic candidate Walter Mondale in the Presidential Election of 1984, he viewed the next four years with great optimism. Americans, nationwide, shared in the optimism, hoping and praying for stability - both national and international stability. In domestic affairs one of the most pressing crises of 1985 for President Reagan was the plight of the American farmer. Because of the increasing deficit President Reagan chose to propose dismantling the system of crop loans, cash subsidies and acreage restrictions which have been a part of American agriculture for over 50 years. While Congress debated on what to do with the farmers, tens of thousands of them in 1985 faced bankruptcy. Thousands actually went bankrupt. Country and folk/rock musicians brought the farmers situation to light by holding a beneficial concert for the struggling farmer, "Farm-Aid." On July 13 President Reagan underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and an 18-inch section of his colon. War in the Mid-East. Outside of a restaurant in West Beirut , a Moslem man clings to his son, moments after a brush with death . A car bomb exploded leaving the street in turmoil. photo by AP I Wide World Photos . 52 Local and World News There was no evidence that the disease had spread; though the cancer had grown through four of the five layers of the bowel wall it had not spread to his lymph nodes. In the entertainment industry Michael J. Fox had incredible success, both in the T.V. series "Family Ties" and in the movie "Back To the Future." Bill Cosby received a top-rating for the television series, 'The Cosby Show." Actor Rock Hudson died from AIDS. Orson Welles died at the age of 70. Yul Brynner died of cancer, and Clarence "Ducky" Nash, the man who provided the voice of Donald Duck for over 50 years, died at the age of 80. In Arkansas news, Grand Gulf was voted the top news story for the second year in a row. Other top stories included the seige of the C.S.A. camp in Marion County and the controversial teacher's testing law. Internationally, the aviation industry had its worst year in history. A total of 1,948 people lost their lives in scheduled and chartered aircraft in 1985. In September Mexico City was rocked with ~1'\ earthquake that measured 7.8 on .... ~- -# .· ·9 - -:·'Ct ": . .... _ · ;:;. -~ .,; ·- the Richter scale. In four minutes approximately 250 buildings collapsed and at least 7,000 people were killed. Thirtysix hours later a smaller quake hit causing few new injuries and toppling already weakened buildings. In November the Nev ado del Ruiz erupted in Columbia. Over 25,000 people were killed in a muddy valley of death. The Summit meeting between President Reagan and the Soviet Union's Mikhail Gorbachov was one of the top stories The biggest newsmaker in 1985 was terrorism. In 1972 there were 206 major incidents of terrorism. In 1984 the figure was 3,525. On June 14, gunmen seized TWA flight 847 and held all the passengers on board as hostages. They demanded that 700 Shiite Moslems be released from an Israeli prison camp. One passenger was killed before the other hostages were released. In October, terrorists seized the cruise ship Achille Lauro, killing one American senior citizen. The Year 1985 will be remembered, filled with tragedy, terrorism - triumphed only by individual courage. -Gary Keith ~ : . .., _ . -- ... ..... .. ,· .. .
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