Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 --

• Blaming what they called Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman’s attempts to block their investigation, City Council members gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that would change Police Chief Allan Webster’s job duties and force him to comply with their probe. The Chief would be compelled to make his officers available for council interviews and turn over requested documents. Council members have never made public any reasons for a probe.

• The Route 50 Bypass in north Salisbury is expected to open to traffic as soon as today. Completed six months ahead of schedule and under budget, the four-lane limited-access highway is a decades-long dream to move beachbound motorists around Salisbury. When all of the bills come in, the 4.5 mile highway is expected to cost $94 million. 

• More than a year after it was shut down, renovation work will finally begin on the City Park Bandstand. Though donations are still needed to fund the $400,000 construction costs, seed money totalling $40,000 in donations from local charities and businesses -- as well as a financial pledge from state government officials to fund half of the project -- is enough to get the work started.

• Even though its funding was cut from Wicomico County’s Tourism budget, Winter Wonderland will return to City Park. Thanks to a cash infusion from area businesses, including Clear Channel Communications, Texas Roadhouse, Canada Dry and Joseph Zimmer Contractors, the $20,000 needed to place and remove the lights has been secured. The city of Salisbury pays the electric bill for the event.

• Urban Salisbury’s latest vision plan includes creating events, housing and business that will draw more interest from Salisbury University students. The university is planning to construct three public-private student residence communities in upcoming years; Urban Salisbury is hoping one of those can be placed Downtown.

• A mad dash for tickets to country singer Toby Keith’s planned Nov. 17 show triggered a breakdown in the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center’s ticket purchasing system. Because of recent problems with fans becoming involved in fights while camping out for event tickets, officials announced that lines would not be permitted to form until 3 a.m., with the ticket windows opening at 8 a.m. Instead, fans who packed the Civic Center were permitted to purchase tickets at 3 a.m. which meant that many fans who arrived later were denied any of the 5,334 tickets.

• After two hours of boos, clapping and protests from residents, City Council members have agreed to temporarily stop efforts to change the City Charter. Council members stared back without reaction to the more than 100 people who attended last Monday’s meeting, most in opposition to 11 proposed charter amendments that would allow the council to share with the Mayor the power to fire all major city employees. The changes were introduced by Councilwoman Rachel Polk.