European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes wednesday september 18, 1991minority students bolster act scores new York apr average scores on the american College test results held steady in 1991 from the previous year. But test officials hailed the results As a sign that minority students Are gaining in school achievement. The composite average was 20.6, unchanged from 1990. Scores on the four part exam the predominant College Entrance test in 28 states mainly in the West and Midwest have barely moved since 1987, when they averaged 20.8. The multiple Choice test is scored on a scale of 1-36. The average on the act administered by american College testing in Iowa City Iowa was based on the scores of 797,000 students who graduated from High school last Spring. Act revised its exam in 1989, and test officials said National averages from 1987 through 1989 were converted to make them comparable to scores on the revised test. Act president Richard l. Ferguson said he was encouraged that scores have held up despite steady increases in the numbers of minorities taking the test. Minority groups continue to score Well below the National average although their 1991 scores held steady or slightly improved. Nearly 27 percent of Alt test takers were non White in 1991, compared with 21 percent in 1987, according to a summary report. Eighteen percent More Black students took the test in 1991 than in 1987, 50 percent More asian Pacific islanders 47 percent More puerto Picans and cubans and 37 percent More mexican Ameri cans. But 4 percent fewer Whites took the exam. A the increasing populations of minority students taking the act and the stability of their scores As their numbers increase Are Welcome trends a Ferguson said. He attributed that stability to a increasing numbers of act tested minority students. Completing a Strong program of Core coursework in High  Black test takers completing High school Core programs a defined As four years of English and three years each of math social studies and natural sciences a Rose from 31 percent in 1987 to 45 percent in 1991. Among All test takers 51 percent completed Core programs in 1991, compared with 38 percent in 1987. A what we see in the act scores released today is dramatic proof. That All students Benefit from taking Core subjects English math social studies and science a said education Secretary Lamar Alexander. A students Don t know what they done to  the act report made for slightly More upbeat Reading than the release last month of Scholastic aptitude test scores. Verbal sat scores for the class of �?T91 Sank to an All time Low and math averages dropped for the first time since 1980. Connecticut May Lay off up to 8,000 Hartford Conn. A gov. Lowell p. Weicker or. On monday ordered Pink slips for state workers to be delivered starting this week after negotiations with unions on a multimillion Dollar Concession package soured. As Many As 8,000 state employees a about 20 percent of the work Force a could be Laid off saving about $84 million and keeping the states recently adopted budget in balance. Labor unions agreed to More than $320 million in wage and other concessions several months ago in Exchange for a budget that included an income tax. But that agreement became void with the Legislatures failure to adopt a budget by july 1, the Start of the fiscal year. Talks resumed once the general Assembly finally adopted a budget that included an income tax on aug. 22. If an agreement is not reached the first of several Waves of Pink slips will be delivered with workers paychecks thursday. 2 bodies recovered from copter crash Laurie to. A the bodies of iwo passengers aboard a helicopter that crashed during a sightseeing trip were pulled monday from the Lake of the ozarks and a search continued for the Pilot. The chopper went Down in the water sunday night after suffering an apparent malfunction said the Missouri state water patrol. No one else was believed to have been aboard. The helicopter had been taking passengers on Tours from Laurie a hillbilly festival before it went Down on the lakes Northwestern Side water patrol dispatcher Matt Walz said. This Ranger deals with wilds of White House a and tourists Washington a Jennifer Gresham wears the customary uniform of Gray shirt and Green pants but she a not your average Park Ranger. Instead of directing visitors through the wilds of Yellowstone or the Depths of the grand Canyon she shepherds White House tourists though lines that seem to wind forever. And to keep the tourists Happy Gresham 30, keeps them entertained with Church choirs marching bands jugglers dancers Blu grass singers Ana even a Bagpiper who once guarded London a Buckingham Palace. She lines up the Talent makes sure the amplifier is plugged in and even has cold water ready for the performer who May Wilt in the capitals oppressive summertime heat. Quot its a neat program a Gresham said recently As the crowds thinned in the Early afternoon. A the entertainment eliminates the frustration. What else can these people do while they re waiting to get inside the White House a the performers have arrived from every state except Alaska. They come at their own expense and their Reward is a certificate signed by president Bush and an escort to the front of the line of White House visitors. Of course there also Are bragging rights. A sometimes the helicopter flies by and the president Waves a Gresham said. A they get excited and say a a huh a or the motorcade comes by  band members from Concordia lutheran school in Peoria iii., had their picture snapped with first lady Barbara Bush. A everybody was going crazy a Gresham said. After labor Day the traditional end Jennifer Gresham pauses to answer questions from two White House tourists. Of the summer tourist season Gresham signs up local Talent from Washington Maryland or Virginia. The number of daily visitors drops from 5,000 to about 2,000. A the next song is a sad song about a wayward criminal Tom Dooley a David Burger of Manassas va., told the crowd Friday As partner Alan Webb adjusted his guitar. �?o1 want everyone to sing along with the last  they played a variety of songs from summertime by George Gershwin to Hail to the chief featuring Burger on the Kazoo. A Tell George to eat his Broccoli a Burger said. Pant it 52, a toe tapping tourist from Hong Kong was impressed. A very Good a he said. A every american artist is very  Gresham an Illinois native said she plans to keep her Job for three More years before seeking a National Park service assignment in the West. No matter where she wears her hat Shell never forget her White House service. A a in a married to the White House Gardener a Gresham said. A i met him through the fence.�?�4 killed As shootout ends birthday party in bar by the new York times new York a four people were killed and sue others were wounded Early monday morning when an argument in a Queens county cabaret exploded into a blazing gun Battle that turned a joyous birthday party into a scene of terror police and witnesses said. Witnesses said screaming survivors some bleeding heavily from gunshot wounds tumbled out the door into the darkness of a Jackson Heights Street leaving a tangle of toppled tables and chairs along with blotches of blood scattered shoes and a White Teddy Bear on the pavement nearby. Late on monday police said they still did not know what led to the lethal Exchange in which at least 19 bullets were fired from two or More handguns inside the crowded . Counters cocktail lounge. Police said drugs were a possible Factor in the violence which occurred in an area where neighbors complained on monday that drug dealing was especially noticeable on the Street outside the lounge. Mauricio Jaramillo 23, told How his wife of several weeks had been slain in the crossfire while he narrowly escaped being hit. A i was right beside her a the Flushing n.y., resident said of Analiah Sepulveda 29. A it was some kind of argument. They struggled for a while and shooting started taking place. I got under the table a that a what saved  a everyone was watching the show a mariachi show a another of those wounded lib redo Orosco 34, said later at Jackson Heights Hospital where he was being treated for leg wounds. A suddenly there was a sound and people started screaming and i fell to the floor. It was dark. You  see  in discussing the violence capt. Joseph Hardiman commanding officer of the Queens major crimes Section said it began about 2 . There were about 50 people inside the lounge some of whom were attending the birthday party and others who were not involved in the party. The Captain said that the two groups seemed to have disliked each other and that this May have sparked the shooting. Although detectives said that colombians and puerto Picans were among the dead they said they did not know if the ill will was founded on differences related to nationality regarding drugs Hardiman speaking at a news conference said a we Nave no indication of drug involvement at this  but he said that a it is possible they played a role in setting off the violence