By Greg Bassett

Friday, July 22, 1988 --

• West Wicomico residents could soon have a new shopping center, complete with a supermarket, if the city and county councils approve the Wicomico Planning & Zoning Commission’s recent recommendation. Developer Thomas Ruark is seeking to build a 100,000-square-foot center on 14.5 acres on Route 349 and Culver Road. Ruark said he is negotiating with two supermarket chains that would like to locate in the center, as well as a major drug store. 
• The Wicomico County Council has approved a $25,000 contract with architects Todd & Associates to put out for bid and oversee construction of a new Sheriff’s Office on Naylor Mill Road. The building will be the same design as the Lower Shore Enterprises building on Owens Branch Road. County Administrative Director Matthew E. Creamer said the LSE building cost about $850,000 to build less than two years ago, so the Sheriff’s Office should cost about the same amount. The building will contain 13,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of storage.   
• Ginger R. Blackburn, music teacher at Beaver Run Elementary School in Salisbury, is the recipient of the 1988 Maryland Music Educators Association Award for Excellence. Blackburn was selected because of her musical leadership, dedication, talent and educational accomplishments. Blackburn was a 1987 finalist for Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Wicomico County.
• Hall’s Tidewater Travel opened its new office on Mount Hermon Road following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local business leaders and elected officials. Among those joining owners John and Carolyn Hall at the event were County Councilwoman Julia Foxwell, and City Council members Jill Barbon and Norman Holland.
• Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore has at long last received an independent franchise and charter. In a formal presentation held in the Greater Salisbury Committee Meeting Room, JA East Coast Region Director presented the charter to Debbie Sebach. For the past five years, JA has been operating in Wicomico County under the direction of Junior Achievement of Wilmington.
• A new terminal at the Salisbury-Wicomico Regional Airport could be ready for use as early as 1990. The Airport Commission has approved the final design for a 25,200-square-foot terminal that will soon be advertised for construction bids. Airport Manager Mark P. Brewer said construction would likely take 18 months. The cost projection has been firmly set at $2.82 million, with 80 percent of the project’s funding coming from the Maryland Airport Terminal Assistance Program. The remaining funds will be financed through a $400,000 bond issue by the Airport Commission.
• Pharmatech, a medical products company, has announced plans to open a manufacturing facility in the Northwood Industrial Park. Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development Director Rober Kiley said the West German company will manufacture rubber stoppers and metal caps used in various medical tubing and devices. Kiley said Pharmatech will build a $2 million facility on 5.5 acres on Industrial Avenue at Beam Street. The plant is projected to employ up to 125 people within three to five years.