By Greg Bassett

Sunday, April 14, 1974 --

• Salisbury Mayor-elect Elmer F. Ruark has received a congratulatory letter from his political hero, U.S. Sen. Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson of Washington state. Ruark and Jackson first became friends in 1943 when they served in the U.S. Army at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, Ala., where Ruark was a sergeant  and Jackson was a buck private in basic training. Jackson’s letter congratulated the soon-to-be mayor on his recent election, citing his impressive victory margin. Jackson is regarded as the Democratic front-runner for the 1976 presidential election.
• Alfred C. Huffer Jr., 48, has been appointed Postmaster and Sectional Center Manager for the Salisbury Post Office, as well as the 112 post offices managed from the Salisbury center. Huffer, a Boonsboro, Md., native, is a career postal employee with 20 years of experience.
• Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Neil Solomon has given the go-ahead for a $1.6 million addition to the Salisbury Nursing Home on Civic Avenue. The 107-bed project had been initially denied by the Health Care Council of the Eastern Shore. An appeal was filed by developer and administrator Dennis Nooner, who oversees the home which currently has 191 beds. State Sen. Mary L. Knock, at the urging of the Wicomico County Medical Society, orchestrated a red-tape-cutting session that conveyed what local doctors called an urgent need for more nursing home beds in the Salisbury area.
• Despite a nationwide gasoline shortage, Easter holiday traffic on the Delmarva Peninsula was reported as heavy, with the ocean resorts reporting big early-spring crowds. Police said they expect the traffic to be heavy this evening, when visitors head back to the western shore. Visitors were treated to a summer-like day on Saturday, with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70s.
• Virginia B. Layfield, Associate Administrator at Peninsula General Hospital, will deliver the opening address for the Second Eastern Shore Women’s Conference, to be held this Saturday at Salisbury State College. Last year, the all-day program attracted more than 200 women. Topics for this conference will include “Women and Personal Finance,” “Women in Politics,” “Health Care For Women” and Problems of Parenthood.”
• The financially troubled Salisbury city bus line nearly began its daily operations last week without the $2,500 monthly subsidy granted by City Hall. During last week’s public meeting, City Council President W. Paul Martin Jr. could not get a second to a motion by Council Vice President Robert A. Powell to approve a monthly subsidy. After some delay, freshman Councilman Norman H. Conway broke the stalemate and seconded the motion, but only after he made it plain he wanted more detailed information about the bus line’s operations and passenger volume.
• Elks Golf & Country Club pro Jack Slayton, 61, has received an A-Master rating from the Professional Golf Association. The rating is the highest the PGA can award a teaching professional. Known as the best golfer on the Eastern Shore, Slayton has been head pro at the Elks for 20 years. He is only the eighth person ever to receive the A-Master rating.
• The 110th production in the long history of the Salisbury Community Players will be the well-known Broadway musical “Mame.” The local production begins Wednesday at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center and continues each night through Saturday. Sue Hess will play the lead as Mame Dennis, with Eddie Watson starring as her nephew. Hope Johnson will portray Vera Charles and James Hurley will play Beauregard Burnside.