Tim Spies

Salisbury voters will be going to the polls today to choose a Mayor and for the first time five council members running in five separate districts.

In District 1 incumbent Shanie Shields faces challenger April Jackson and Sarah Halcott.

In District 2, a new minority-majority seat, there are four candidates who include Keyvan Aarabi, Marvin Ames, Muir Boda and Justin Gregoli.

In District 3 two incumbents Tim Spies and Jack Heath are vying for the seat along with Kevin Lindsay.

Last night heroin addiction brought out around fifty family members and elected officials in a candlelight vigil at the Salisbury Riverwalk Park. They were parents, spouses and siblings who talked of their struggles and their determination to fight what has become the rising use of heroin and other drugs.

The vigil was sponsored by the group Shoulder to Shoulder to Beat Heroin Addiction.

City Council Vice President Laura Mitchell whose loved one has been fighting addiction took center stage breaking down at times as she urged the community fight the deadly epidemic.

The Salisbury City Council is mulling over the idea of a curfew for those under the age of 17.

Under the measure those under the age of 14 would not be allowed out between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Meanwhile, for those under the age of 17 the curfew would start one hour later at 10 p.m. with Friday and Saturday nights at 11 p.m.

There would be exemptions for those teens who have a job or are part of after-school programs.

An assessment of home ownership in Salisbury has found it has fallen by 4 percent over the last four years.

During an overview of Salisbury census data last night the city council was told that the rental market accounted for 66.8 percent of the housing market while homeownership accounted for just over 33 percent.

City Council member Tim Spies says the trend reflects a tough economy.

There are 12 candidates who have applied to fill the seat on the Salisbury City Council vacated by Terry Cohen who abruptly left the council due to personal obligations.

The four remaining council members interviewed all of the candidates yesterday afternoon during a three and a half hour session.

Council member Tim Spies told the Salisbury Daily Times that he was pleased with the variety of the candidate’s backgrounds.

The Salisbury City Council took the first steps last night to replace Terry Cohen who abruptly announced she was leaving the council due to personal obligations.

So, now, it will be up to the four remaining council members to choose a new member by early September.

Council President Jake Day said they would be receiving applications with a deadline of August 25th.