Officials reported that local physician Dr. Wayne Hird had died of cardiac arrest after his ultralight aircraft had crashed into a tree on the Lawrence Country Club golf course.

The Lawrence school board was considering three separate proposals to balance enrollments at the local junior high schools. The problem was most noticeable at West and Central. It was estimated that in the next year West would have almost 175 more students than Central. Supt. Dan Neuenswander said that the problem was partly due to the “very loose” transfer policy that had been in place during previous years.

Local reports of sexual abuse cases involving children had increased an alarming 148 percent in the past three years. Social workers, psychologists and educators agreed that it was possible that incidents themselves were not increasing, but that educational efforts were bringing previously hidden cases to the attention of those who could help end the cycle of abuse.