Wednesday, Sept 15, 1971

• Israel L. Benjamin, founder a half-century ago of the department store that bears his name, died at age 80 in his home on Ridge Road. A noted local philanthropist, he was the founder of Beth Israel Synagogue and a former Salisbury Award winner. Benjamin retired from an active role in his department store when his wife, Rose R. Benjamin, died nine years ago. Benjamin’s is the largest department store on the Eastern Shore.
• Funeral services will be held Thursday for former Mayor Alfred T. Truitt Sr. The Pittsville native and resident of 418 Pinehurst Ave. died Tuesday at Salisbury Nursing Home. Truitt was mayor from 1935-37. He and his cousin Charles Truitt formerly owned the Salisbury Times; they later owned WBOC and he served as business manager. He most recently operated Truitt’s Travel Agency with his wife, Lillian.
• State’s Attorney Fulton Jeffers said charges would like be dropped against a man from the Bahamas accused of stealing a plane in Boston. Donald Moore McVicar was arrested when he stopped for fuel at the Salisbury airport while en route to Florida. Ownership of the plane has been claimed by three different companies, and McVicar said he was merely an agent for the owner. Shortly after landing here, McVicar was arrested and charged with grand larceny; he was released on $10,000 bond.
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Cannon of Riverside Drive returned from Atlantic City, where they attended the Miss America Pageant. With them was their daughter, Sharon Ann Cannon, Miss Maryland of 1970, who was at the pageant as a guest of the Maryland Foundation.
• Bob Townsend of Mount Hermon Road in Salisbury was the big winner at the Wicomico Farm and Home Show held at the Civic Center with his entry of a 100-pound pumpkin.
• Home and business owners adjacent to a tract known as Canal Park were imploring the City Council not to annex the multi-acre tract because it would force them into the city limits as well. Developers have proposed a $3 million complex of some 200 garden-style apartments for the property in south Salisbury. Proponents said the urban services required for the development should be made available so the city can meet growth goals.