Monday, March 12, 1979 --

• Salisbury might be getting a second indoor shopping mall, but whether it would be located in the central business district or somewhere in north Salisbury along Route 13 is still to be determined. Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development Director Robert Kiley said many of the Downtown structures “face structural obsolescence” and the once-vibrant shopping district has been facing constant declines.  

• County Fire Inspector Joe T. Hearn said Pine Bluff Village met building code requirements because there were plans to install water sprinklers in the state-funded elderly housing facility. A fire last month did a surprising $1 million in damage to the Riverside Drive project. Fire Marshal Donald Williams said there was no mandate for firewalls in the new sections that were under construction when the fire ignited and spread quickly. 

• Because demand has doubled in the last four years, Perdue Farms is seeking to expand the number of poultry farmers who can successfully raise cornish game hens. The birds require special houses. Growers in the Cornish New House Guarantee program would see a profitable of $75,500 in just 225 production weeks in a 16,000-square-foot house, which is equivalent to $141.78 per 1,000 large bird broilers. 

• Record snowfalls and deep freezes have been a constant since 1979 began, but it’s been two weeks since the snow melted. Although the piles of snow are gone, the recent pattern of heavy rains, freezing nights and thawing days has created potholes galore on city streets and Wicomico County roads. Jerry McAllister of Oliphant Chevrolet said his business has seen a surge in front-end repairs related to potholes. Bill Kelly of Nelms and Kelly on Cypress Street said his customers have been bringing in vehicles with rusted-out exhaust systems. Jimmy Messick of Cavanaugh Ford said dirty gas has been the biggest problem he has seen, with water infiltrating many car gas tanks.

• Two Salisburians have been named winners of the Meuse Post No. 149 Veterans of Foreign Wars Queen Contest. Melody Shawn Whitelock, 16, of Wicomico Senior High School, was chosen Buddy Poppy Queen. Anita Gale Taylor, 15, of James M. Bennett Senior High School, was selected as Loyalty Day Queen. Meanwhile, Pam Filippelli, 17, of Valleywood Drive, has been named a state finalist in the 1979 Maryland-District of Columbia National Teen-Ager Pagent to be held later this month in Pikesville.

• The Wicomico Masonic Lodge No. 91 has installed its officers for 1979. They are: Allen F. Quillen, senior deacon; Edgar A. Baker Jr., senior warden; Larry D. Whitten, worshipful master; Z. Howard Tingle, junior warden; Francis S. Darling, junior deacon; James H. Murrell, treasurer; E. Austin Baker, marshal; Thomas E. Ewing, senior stewart; Clyde C. Hill, secretary; Clifford E. Parsons, tyler; and Kenneth Hornberger, deputy grand inspector.