Wednesday, June 24, 1972 --

• City Solicitor Walter C. Anderson has filed a motion in District Court to dismiss charges against the mayors of Salisbury and Berlin who are accused of disorderly conduct and obstructing a police officer. Mayors Dallas Truitt of Salisbury and John Howard Burbage of Berlin were in a car driven by Crisfield Mayor John Samuel Catlin when it collided with a vehicle being driven by a western shore minister. The mayors were returning at about midnight from a Mayors Association Meeting in Ocean City. Truitt and Burbage allegedly got out of the vehicle and confronted city Police Officer Kenneth Marriner, who arrived at the scene at Mill Street and Route 50. Truitt was accused of yelling obscenities at the officer; the charges were filed by State’s Attorney Fulton Jeffers. Anderson argued that because Mayor Truitt  “is directly in charge of the police department,” all of its officers are “under his sole discretion and control” -- which meant he could not be charged. Mayor Caitlin was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to obey a traffic light.

• The County Council agreed to support the Wicomico Board of Education in its fight against the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare concerning segregation at two elementary schools. A 16-page report from a federal hearing examiner determined there are two all-black school in the county -- Salisbury Elementary of Lake Street and West Salisbury Elementary -- but the other 17 elementary schools are fully integrated. County officials argue unique programs in the two schools are designed to aid the minority students’ success. An appeal could cost the county up to $5,000 in legal fees. The government will pull $750,000 in federal funding if the county refuses to comply.

• Paul Nock, a nationally known waterfowl and bird carver who lives on Riverside Drive in Salisbury, will represent Maryland in the Smithsonian Institution's American Folklore Festival on the National Mall in July. Nock, an official at Hubert White Hardware Co., will exhibit his work and be on-hand carving at the festival.

• The Wicomico County Council has agreed to rent the boat ramp behind Banks’ Market on Riverside Drive to provide residents with a functional county boat ramp in Salisbury. Council President Lewis R. Riley said Philip Banks, who owns the ramp, would be paid $150 per month for the public use of the ramp during the 120-day boating season. The situation became critical recently when Banks began charging $2 per boater for use of the ramp, which had always been available for free.

• A year’s delay in the construction of the Beaver Run Elementary School gymnasium is likely as county school officials have decided instead to use funds slated for the addition to make repairs at the school. The decision was forced by state officials, who recently assessed the school and ruled the building should be brought up to 1972 standards before a new gym is added.

• A new paid parking lot has opened at Peninsula General Hospital. The lot is between the educational center and the hospital building and is accessible from West Locust Street. The fee for the 105-space lot will be 25 cents with a limit of four hours. The fee will be paid upon exit and the gate will not open unless exact change is deposited in the basket. The lot will allow visitors to access the facility without crossing city streets or having to park in Surrounding neighborhoods.