Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1977 --

• The Salisbury Fire Department’s fire boat, “Datum,” sunk in its berth in the Wicomico River Prong just north of the Route 50 bridge. Fire Chief Frederick Williams said he didn’t yet know how the craft filled up with water. Efforts to pump out the water and refloat the fire boat failed, so officials were seeking a crane to remove the boat.
• Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, swore in Salisbury native Paul S. Sarbanes as the new U.S. Senator for Maryland. Standing alongside Sarbanes for the occasion were Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Vice President-elect Walter Mondale.
• The Pemberton Hall Foundation said it would purchase an additional 52 acres near the historic structure to increase the size of Pemberton Historical Park. The land is mostly marshland that extends to the Wicomico River.
• The Wicomico County Council approved the release of $300,000 in capital funds for an expansion of the Wicomico County Free Library. The cash is needed to help close a funding cap that occurred when the state only appropriated $1.6 million of the $2.2 million that was requested.
• Mayor Elmer Ruark has appointed a special committee to lead the transition of old City Hall into the City Hall Museum and Cultural Center. The Wicomico Art League is planning classes in the building that will begin Jan. 20. City offices moved into the new Government Office Building last year.
• Albert Turner scored 22 second-half points to lead Wi-Hi to an 86-63 win over a scrappy Pocomoke High School team. Wi-Hi, the Bayside Conference leaders, actually trailed Pocomoke by 4 points at half-time. Coach Butch Waller said he and his team “had a little chat at the half,” and his players rallied for 56 second-half points.
• Four new letter-sorting machines have been added at the Salisbury Post Office. Postmaster Alfred Huffer said the machines will increase efficiency and allow mail to be processed at a much faster rate.
• Roberta Rippon of Atlantic Avenue in Salisbury won $4,320 in the recent Maryland Lottery drawing. She and her husband have no extensive plans for the cash, but said they would use it to cover recent holiday bills.