Thursday, May 14, 1981 --

• Salisbury Police Chief Stephen B. Tabeling is flatly refusing to ever move his department into the Wicomico County District Court/Jail Complex proposed for Downtown Salisbury. Tabeling, whose department has been forced to occupy tight quarters for decades, said he and his officers need a space of at least 25,000 square feet, and that could never be accommodated within the new structure. Tabeling said he would like to see the city build a police headquarters on the abandoned city incinerator property on Route 50 at Delaware Avenue.   

• One year after its formal adoption, critics say the R/UDAT study that was supposed to springboard redevelopment in Downtown Salisbury has achieved nothing. While a small group of volunteers has yet to give up on the ambitious redevelopment plan, the mere mention of the akronym R/UDAT -- which stands for Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team -- rarely generates a positive reaction. Some 50 citizen volunteers, serving on a total of 10 committees, said redevelopment takes time and it is too early to call the plan a disappointment.

• The Greater Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce is faced again with finding an Executive Director after being notified that a North Carolina man selected to succeed Tony Middleton has decided to take another job. Chamber President W. Richard Holloway said the search committee had been informed that Willis “Stoney” Creech of New Bern, N.C., had elected to remain in his native state. Holloway said the committee will head back to the drawing board and consider local candidates as well as those from off the Eastern Shore.

• The Wicomico County Council is headed into a potentially ugly battle with the Board of Education. County Administrative Director Matt Creamer is hoping to keep the upcoming budget at $27 million so the county doesn’t have to raise taxes. The school board, however, has made clear it wants $14 million from the county, which is $1.6 million more that the county wants to shell out. Superintendent Harold Fulton said he is looking forward to confronting council members in an effort to secure full budget funding. Because of budget deadlines, the two entities have just 15 days to come to agreement.

• A crowd of about 3,000 people were at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center to see the “Blue-Eyed Soul” performance of music stars Daryl Hall and John Oates. The duo played all of the ir big hits for the appreciative fans: “How Does It Feel To Be Back?’, “Rich Girl,” and their famous hit “Sarah Smile.” The band also sampled their new song, “Rich Girl” and performed the classic “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.”

• State Highway officials said they will halt boat and barge traffic from passing through the West Main Street bridge span for at least two weeks while additional repairs are undertaken. District Engineer James W. Magill said the span now needs new “trunion bearings” as well as other unforeseen maintenance. The bridge has been in the raised position for the last two weeks, frustrating local motorists. The repairs had been expected to cost $194,000, but will now likely cost more.