By Greg Bassett

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1969 --

• The new Social Security Administration Office in Salisbury has opened on East Main Street. The all-white brick building, located at the turnoff to Glen Avenue, replaces the longtime offices on East Market Street. At 7,000 square feet, the building is owned by the federal government and costs $200,000 to construct.
• The State Roads Commission has asked for bids on the first project of the Salisbury Bypass of U.S. Route 13. Regional Commissioner Leslie H. Evans said the plan calls for dual bridges over Old Ocean City Road east of Salisbury. A single span would cross the railroad tracks that run parallel to Old Ocean City Road. The bypass will be built in two phases – the first from Business Route 13; the second from Route 50 to Business Route 13 in Fruitland.
• Two Salisbury Police officers have been named by the Salisbury Jaycees as recipients of the Law Enforcement of the Month Award. Sgt. H. Thomas Taylor and Patrolman Richard V. Shores were saluted for “rendering outstanding acts of service in the performance of their duties.” The two men were commended for their apprehension of a suspect involved in a Sussex County robbery. They arrested the man in the Salisbury Bus Station on East Main Street.
• Peninsula General Hospital reported net patient revenues of $6.8 million for fiscal 1969, an $800,000 increase over the previous year. An audit shows $130,733 in revenues in excess of expenses. PGH now has 800 employees. The hospital is planning a new all-service wing to meet expected demands from community growth.
• The Rev. J. Robert Mackey, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury for the last 21 years, will depart to fill a vacancy at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Wilmington. The Wilmington church is much bigger than Asbury, but is still part of the Peninsula Annual Conference.
• The formal Charity Ball, sponsored by the Junior Board of Peninsula General Hospital, was held over the weekend at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Considered the social highlight of the Christmas season, the annual event includes a grand march with women in formal dresses and men in tuxedos. Founded by the late Claude C. Dorman, the grand marshal’s role for the last several years has been filled by H. Lay Phillips Jr.
• The convicted slayer of Wicomico Sheriff Samuel A. Graham and sheriff’s turnkey Albert L. Kelly was handed two death sentences by a judge in Charles County. Judge J. Dudley Digges ruled Joseph J. Bartholomey, 22, should be put to death for the December 1968 fatal shootings that occurred while he was an inmate in the county jail at the county courthouse. Bartholomey escaped following the attack, but was apprehended in Delaware the next day.
•  World heavyweight wrestling champion Bruno Sammartino will defend his title Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center against Killer Kowalski. The Italian-born Sammartino has 68 straight wins and has held his world title since 1963. At 5 feet 10 inches and 260 pounds, Sammartino faces a size challenge in wrestling Kowalski of Detroit, who stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 275 pounds. The Dykes Brother of Salisbury, who are promoting the event, said they have hired extra police officers to provide security because Kowalski is known to trigger riots with his knock-down, drag-out manner of grappling.
• Movies playing in Salisbury this weekend include James Bond 007 in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” at the Wicomico Theater, “101 Dalmatians” at the Boulevard Theater and “Hip, Hot and 21” at the Bowl Drive-In.