Wednesday, July 8, 1981 --

• After months of haggling, the Wicomico County Council has finally signed a lease with the state to lease the basement of the Government Office Building for use by the District Courts of Maryland. The county courthouse is too cramped to accommodate additional court space, creating a crisis situation for state judges and staff members. Construction of a new District Courts building is not expected until at least 1984. The state will spend $150,000 to renovate the GOB basement and then pay the county $1 per square foot for the space, or about $4,300 annually.
• Land developer-chicken grower-veterinarian Dr. Ruffus Johnson has asked Wicomico County officials to sell him land adjacent to the route planned for Beaglin Park Drive for a price of $1,500. In the 1970s, Johnson and the county were embroiled in a long-running legal dispute over land the county needed to build Beaglin Park Drive. Johnson said that -- if the county sells -- he will ask the city to annex the property and develop it.
• The Wicomico County Council has invited an advisory pay commission to attend its August meeting and formally present its controversial salary-hike proposals. The commission is recommending that council members’ salaries increase from $4,800 annually to $8,500. The commission recommends paying the Council President $9,500. One reason for the controversy is that some beginning school teachers are paid about $8,000 annually. 
• State Highway Administration officials announced the Route 13 Bypass, which offers north-south travelers a traffic-light-free route around Salisbury, could be open by Labor Day. The four-lane highway located east of the city, was originally expected to open this December. SHA Engineer James Forester said favorable weather in the spring and this summer has allowed work to proceed at a rapid pace. Officials have been working at least 11 years to design and build the dual-lane highway.
• Residents of Salisbury’s historic Newtown neighborhood have hired a lawyer to fight approval of a beer and wine license for T’s Mini Market at the corner of North Salisbury Boulevard and East William Street. The three-member Board of License Commissioners approved the license in a 3-2 vote last month. About 75 people attended that hearing to oppose the license; opponents have since gathered a challenging petition with more than 150 signatures. Attorney Lee Clarke III said he will take the residents’ case to county Circuit Court.
• Movies playing this week in the Salisbury area include “Escape From New York” and “Cannonball Run” at the World Cinemas at Shoppers World, “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” and “Stripes” starring Bill Murray at the Mall Cinemas, and Superman II” at the Boulevard Theater. Meanwhile, tickets remain on sale at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center for Saturday night’s “An Evening With Jimmy Buffet.” The show begins at 8 p.m.
• Hayman’s Pharmacy, located at the corner of Salisbury’s Camden and West Market streets, was purchased at auction for $32,850. Salisbury lawyer K. King Burnett was the high bidder, outlasting Ethan A. Kenney in a two-man war of nerves over a selling price. After the auction, Burnett appeared pleased to have won the building which overlooks a portion of the Wicomico River, but declined to declare what its future might be. The historic building has long been the site of the pharmacy and its accompanying luncheonette.