Monday, Aug. 10, 1981 --

• It took 153 struggling swimmers to reach their 250-mile goal, but they swam the last stroke and raised $1,810.89 for the Wicomico County Chapter of the American Cancer society. Dorretta Murray, chairwoman of the third-annual Swim To Conquer Cancer event, said thousands of laps were completed at the Canal Woods Pool to meet the goal. Kim Walston, 12, was the top fundraiser with pledges from 166 sponsors. Swim teams from Elks, Canal Woods and Green Hill all participated.
• Wicomico County Airport Director James Lamer reported that air traffic in and out of the airport has remained at 90 percent of normal throughout the air controllers strike. Lamer said there has been a 50 percent decrease in passenger traffic, as travelers are concerned that connecting flights leaving Baltimore and Washington might be canceled at the last minute because of the nine-day strike.
• George Pitts, 63, director of the Delmarva Water Transport Committee has announced his retirement. The retired Army colonel is stepping down on Aug. 28 after four years leading the nonprofit group that oversees river traffic, dredging a facilities for the Port of Salisbury. A farewell luncheon will be held next week at the Green Hill Yacht & Country Club.
• Salisbury City Council members voiced extreme displeasure when they learned the state was taking back $7,900 from a $14,000 grant because the city Public Works Department couldn’t prove to state auditors that the money was spent correctly. Because the entire $14,000 has been spent, state officials will take $7,900 from a $50,000 grant destined for the city Police State auditors said Public Works officials were unable to produce time records showing city employees actually worked on the initiatives covered under the grant.
• Deputy Fire Chief Bill “Pinky” Higgins and his crew members were being lauded for their performance in preventing a minor blaze at the Duo-Sofas manufacturing plant from become a major fire. Plant Vice President Iri Ward said firefighters quick response and action limited damage to “a few hundred dollars.” Ward said that if the smoldering blaze had spread to nearby containers of lacquer, major damage would have occurred inside the Northwood Industrial Park facility.
• Loretta B. Jolley, widow of Thornton B. Jolley and the owner of Jolley Memorial Chapel, has been honored by the American Association of University Women for outstanding community service. Jolley, who attended Norfolk State University and received her degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, has also taken graduate Classes at Morgan State University and Drexel University. The mother of three daughters, Jolley is a funeral director, a notary public and leader of a prominent Salisbury business.
• Customers roamed the mostly empty aisles at the Pantry Pride supermarket in Salisbury Mall, looking for last-minute deals. The store is closing on Saturday after 13 years in its mall location. Pantry Pride, based in Baltimore, has filed bankruptcy and is closing all 45 of its stores. Salisbury’s Pantry Pride employed about 70 people.