By Greg Bassett

Sunday, May 27, 1979 --

• Maryland Gov. Harry R. Hughes on Friday signed into law a bond bill that will give Wicomico County $2.1 million to help shore up a construction deficit on the new Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. The county has already earmarked $8.6 million in local money. Unfortunately, the state money is not enough to make up some $3 million in cost overruns, so county officials must still find another $900,000.
• The Salisbury City Council has agreed to implement a 20 percent hike in the water and sewer rates. Mayor Elmer F. Ruark had proposed a 23 percent hike in water and sewer rates, so the council will delay two projects -- a city bulkheading project and construction of a new bridge on North Division Street near the library -- to pay for the reduced rate hike. The city’s budget for the coming fiscal year will total $7.5 million.
• The following Downtown Salisbury businesses have announced that for this week’s Memorial Day Sales Campaign they will offer customers 20 percent off in their stores: Hess Apparel’s Another Dimension, Castleberg’s Jewelers, Edythe’s, Kuhn’s Jewelers, Benjamin’s, Lad ‘n Lassie, The Basket Roost, Ralph & Gaskill, Salisbury Piano and Organ, Woolworth’s, Gourmet Shack, Watson’s Smoke House, Carousel, Vernon Powell and JCPenney.
• The Wi-Hi Indians lost 4-3 to Elkton High School in the Region IV Baseball title game. Elkton and Wi-Hi were tied 3-3 until the fourth inning when starting pitcher Larry Heidt gave up what turned out to be the decisive run. Reliever Mike LaBounty came in and held Elkton scoreless for the remainder of the game. Heidt, John Massey, and Kory Hooker drove in the Indians’ three runs. 
• Paul Audet, President of MDV Television Inc., said Salisbury will have a new TV station operating by February. The Wicomico Board of Zoning Appeals has granted a special exception for a 1,019-foot transmitting tower in land zoned as rural-residential. The approval followed a stormy public meeting held two weeks ago in which western Wicomico residents spoke in opposition to the 3.6 million-watts transmitter in the San Domingo area. 

• Movies playing in Salisbury this week include: “Dawn Of The Dead” and “Every Which Way But Loose” starring Clint Eastwood, at the Mall Cinema;  “Battlestar Galactica,” “Silver Streak” and “The China Syndrome” at the Boulevard Theatre; and “Stingray” and “Corvette Summer” at the Bowl Drive-In. 
• The Wicomico County Council approved a $23.89 million fiscal 1980 budget that cuts property taxes by 3 cents. Despite the tax cut, the county’s budget will increase by almost $500,000, as the council ordered cuts to nearly all departments.
• Longtime Wicomico Board of Education employees, with combined service totaling some 2,600 years, were honored at the second-annual service awards program at the Vocational-Technical Center cafeteria. Among the top honorees were Assistant Superintendent Sheldon B. Dawson, who has served 40 years, and Delmar teacher Mary M. Troy, who marked 30 years. The event was exceeded by Personnel Director William T. Middleton.
• Maryland State Police Troopers have attached decals to their cruisers that read “Operation Care,” to remind motorists to drive with care. State Police said the reminders are especially important on weekends like this one, when Memorial Day travelers are filling the state’s highways.