Thursday, April 12, 1979 --

• Salisbury City Councilman Dr. Verdin S. Cantrell said the warm spring weather has triggered a massive number of dog nuisance complaints, with more dogs than ever roaming all over town. Cantrell, speaking at the week’s public council meeting, reminded those in attendance that Salisbury in 1966 passed an animal nuisance bill and in 1977 increased fines related to the law. Cantrell criticized city residents who, he said, allowed their animals to bark uncontrollably, run loose in neighborhoods and intimidate children.
• A record number of students participated in the Salisbury Optimists annual oratorical contest. The winners in the girl’s division were Charlene Calvano of St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, first place; Margaret Carey, also of St. Francis, second place; and Georgia Yost of Bennett Junior High, third. The contest chairman is James Cue; the Optimists president is James L. Gray.
• The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce has elected a new slate of officers for 1979. They are: Werner Gruber, president; S. Norman Holland Jr., president-elect; George J. Mengason, W. Richard Holloway and Gordon D. Gladden, vice presidents; Nellie G. Collins, treasurer; and Laurence W. Porter, assistant treasurer. Directors named to a three-year term are: Lewis Carman, Billie Cooper, William Womack and W.W. “Buck” Duncan.
• Glen Avenue Elementary School Principal officially hoisted the shovel to break ground on a $441,680 construction and renovation project there. The school will receive a new media center, a speech room and a reading classroom. Contractors will use white brick in the single-story construction.
• Loyola Federal Savings & Loan on West Carroll Street was offering 9.57 percent interest on a six-month, $10,000 minimum, Certificate of Deposit. Meanwhile, Culver Oldsmobile -- “The Happy Face Place” on South Salisbury Boulevard -- had 19 R47 Cutlass Supreme Coupes on their lot with a list price of $6,857.64 and a discount price of $5,999.
• Mayor Elmer F. Ruark’s fiscal 1980 budget holds the city’s tax rate at $1.50 per $100 of assessed valued but calls for a 23 percent hike in water and sewer rates. If the City Council goes along with the mayor’s proposal, the average Salisbury homeowner will pay an additional $2.63 per month on their water bill. In his budget message, the mayor also called upon the Wicomico County Council to increase its financial support for the city’s Fire Department. The county currently provides $228,000 in fire support nd $38,760 in ambulance support.
• The Wi-Hi and James M. Bennett boys and girls tennis teams split their matches held at Bennett. The Wicomico boys captured a 6-1 victory with Jeff Parker, Ray Still and Carson Bozman, all winners. The Bennett girls also won 6-1, thanks to singles victories by Barbara Haberstroh, Cherri Todd and Debbie Lucas.  
• Work is finally expected to begin on a two-lane road that will connect North Park Drive to East College Avenue. Beaglin Park Drive has been on the drawing boards for 17 years, but the 3,000-foot roadway has been mired in scandal and court controversies for the past decade. Construction is expected to cost $33,996. The road will men Route 50 motorists will have a direct route to Salisbury State College.