By Greg Bassett

Monday, March 10, 1986 --

• Price wars among Salisbury gas stations have sent average prices falling to below the $1-per-gallon mark for the first time in more than two years. Brenda Cannon of Buddy’s Shell said regular gas was priced at 87.9 cents, with premium unleaded selling for $1.07. Anna Nicely of Nicely’s Shell said regular gas was priced at 99.9 cents per gallon, with premium unleaded going for $1.24. An informal survey of prices across Salisbury found the average price at 99.9 cents per gallon.
• Delmarva poultry farmers are following precautions to stem the possible spread of avian influenza. Farms in New York and New Jersey have been battling flu outbreaks, which means the virus could spread to Delmarva. While humans are affected by the disease, an infected flock can cause damage to other nearby flocks.
• In a daylong trip to Salisbury, one of Maryland Gov. Harry R. Hughes’ many stops was a visit to teacher Carolyn Johnston’s 5th-grade English composition class at Glen Avenue School. Hughes arrived at the elementary school in a state helicopter, generating excitement among the students and staff members. Students peppered the governor with several questions – one question resulted in Hughes admitting that his ambition as a child was to grow up and be a Major League Baseball player.
• The Salisbury City Council denied a request made by the Hebron Town Commissioners to consider allowing Hebron to hook up its lines to Salisbury’s sewer system. The request is one of desperation for Hebron, which has long sought its own system but has been denied repeatedly by state officials. “As cruel as it sounds, we are not our brother’s keeper,” said Salisbury Councilman Sam Siedel. “Our sewer system is the birthright of Salisbury. If we give it away, we’ll only hurt the city.”
• At least two of the major poultry processing plants on Delmarva are laying off night shift employees. Mountaire Farms has dropped 150 employees from its Selbyville plant, leaving 550 employees to continue production. Showell Farms near Berlin will reduce its workforce by 60 employees. Perdue Farms spokeswoman Rita Morgan said, however, that the company is still hiring at its Salisbury, Accomac and Georgetown plants.
• The new director of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center said he will be seeking to book more rock bands featuring Top 40 stars, as well as theater productions to the Salisbury facility. Robert Waggoner, previously an auditorium manager in Spartanburg, S.C., said Pat Benatar, Night Ranger and Liza Minelli are among the artists he will try to book. Waggoner recently booked Ted Nugent, Donna Fargo and B.J. Thomas for concerts in Salisbury.