Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004 --

• The Wicomico Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 20-year-old Salisbury man who allegedly stole a patrol car from the scene of a Windham Court college party and took the vehicle for a joy ride. The Sheriff’s vehicle was recovered in a field off Dykes Road. “They may think of it as a prank, but it is motor vehicle theft, and we’re taking it very seriously,” said Sheriff’s Office Capt. Gary Baker.
• Wicomico County farmers are mobilizing in opposition to a General Assembly measure that they say will impose a destructive tax burden on the regional agricultural community. A House of Delegates bill, which was submitted as enabling legislation approved by the County Council, would allow Wicomico to collect a developmental excise tax. The bill is written to give the county broad powers to determine what kinds of new construction could be taxed, without rate restrictions.
• Salisbury Fire Department officials are negotiating for land to build a new headquarters building in the vicinity of Cypress and Lake streets. Fire Chief David See said the department has outgrown the Station 16 building on South Division Street and officials hope to begin construction of a new building by fall. A bond issue of $4 million was approved Feb. 9 by the City Council.
• Wicomico County Council members said they will not investigate the violation of personnel rules committed by a committee that reviewed the termination of three Detention Center employees. The Personnel Board, a five-member group appointed by the council, has been under fire for closing an appeals hearing to the public – even when the ex-officer’s hearing should, under the law, have been open to his family and the public.
• County officials are trying to decide what to do with the old terminal building at the Salisbury-Wicomico Regional Airport. Most recently used as the headquarters of Filtronic, a telecommunications company that recently moved to a huge new office complex on Walston Switch Road. The county could tear down the building to increase the site’s economic development potential, or apply for grants to rehab the building that is said to be in disrepair.