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Inside Tip
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Griffin firm one of a kind
Len Galati and John Dantonio
have spelled nothing but good
fortune for Spalding County
since their arrival.
They are responsible for
Wencor Manufacturing Com
pany’s locating here.
Operating out of offices at 201
West Broadway, Wencor
Manufacturing produces
specialized seals for the air
craft, space and racing in
dustries.
Since January of this year,
Wencor has been licensed by the
Federal Aviation Administra
tion (FAA) to rebuild seals for
aircraft auxiliary power units
(APU).
Because of the highly
specialized technique used in
rebuilding the seals, Wencor is
the only private company in the
world licensed to perform the
operation.
“The APU supplies power for
the aircraft while it is on the
ground,” explained Galati.
Each unit has two major seals
that must be replaced after
approximately 1,500 hours.
A new seal costs $l6O. A
rebuilt Wencor seal, which will
last as long, costs about S6O.
“We have just been licensed
to do this but as the word
spreads, the airlines are picking
up on this service,” a Wencor
official said.
Griffin Wencor shop super
visor John Dantonio expects a
volume of 300 seals a month,
with five hours shop time
required to produce each.
“We hope to have gross sales
totaling $250,000 from our over
all operation,” Dantonio said.
Mrs. Catherine Johnson is
chief inspector for Wencor
Center
permit
issued
A permit for construction of a
$70,000 day care center was
issued to the First Assembly of
God Church, 1411 Old Atlanta
road, last month.
This was shown in the city of
Griffin’s monthly building
report.
A permit for one single family
residence was issued. It was
valued at $31,000.
Thirty permits for altera
tions, conversions and additions
were issued, totaling $1,183.
Five such commercial permits
totaled $8,350 and one church
alteration was for $325.
The 54 city permits totaled
$138,568, according to Bob Reed,
building official.
(Editor’s Note: Just what’s In
that no fault automobile insur
ance bill the General Assembly
passed this year? Some of the
questions most frequently
asked are answered in this
summary of the bill supplied the
Griffin Daily News by Rep.
Clayton Brown of Griffin.
What does the bill do?
It requires all owners of
motor vehicles (except motor
cycyles) to have minimum
bodily injury and property
damage liability coverage from
and after January 1, 1975. In
addition this coverage shall
include benefits payable
without regard to fault to vir
tually all persons injured in
automobile accidents. There is
a modest limitation upon the
right to sue in cases of minor
injury.
What are the minimum
coverages required?
All vehicles subject to the act
must have bodily injury liability
coverage of SIO,OOO per person;
$20,000 per accident; and
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Wencor shop supervisor John Dantonio (seated) and Len Galati check finished aircraft
seals for quality.
Manufacturing.
Wencor in Griffin hopes to
supply seals to 90 international
airlines through its parent
distribution company, Wencor,
Inc.
Based in Miami, Fla.,
Wencor, Inc. has major
distribution offices in Madrid
and London.
Len Galati is general
manager of Wencor, Inc., and is
currently spending his time in
Griffin getting Wencor Mfg. Co.
on its feet.
In fact, Galati likes it here so
Rangers stop in Griffin
A group of some 36 Army men
taking ranger training was
scheduled to arrive in Griffin
today for an overnight stay.
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“What we get for nothing
usually is more valuable than
what we buy.”
property damage liability
coverage of $5,000 per accident.
Benefits payable without
regard to fault are included up
to $5,000 per person for medical
care, wage loss and other
economic loss. These coverages
may be provided by insurance
or by qualifying as a self
insurer.
What benefits are payable
without regard to fault?
All vehicles are required to
provide at least SSOOO per person
coverage for economic or
pecuniary loss. This pays for all
necessary medical care up to
$2500; 85 percent of loss of in
come up to S2OO per week; the
cost of providing substitute ser
vices (such as maid service) up
to S2O per day; and up to SISOO
for funeral services. In death
cases, the survivors are entitled
to loss of income and substitute
services benefits up to the
maximum provided. Insurers
are required to offer optional
additional coverage up to
$50,000 per person in benefits.
What limits are imposed upon
GRIFFIN
DAI LY N E WS
Vol. 102 No. 80
Just what does that no-fault mean to you?
well that he is encouraging
Wencor, Inc., to leave Miami
and locate in Griffin.
“Should Wencor move its
home offices to Griffin, it would
mean a company grossing over
$1 million a year, with a payroll
of $350,000,” Galati said.
He pointed out that all Wencor
plants hire the handicapped.
While he is waiting to hear
Wencor’s final decision about a
move to Griffin, Galati is tur
ning his own home town,
They will set up a display on
ranger training at Cook’s
Department Store this after
noon. The public is invited to see
the display.
The trainees will stay over
night in the National Guard
armory. They are on a hike
from Ft. Benning to Dahlonega
as part of their training.
.RAIN
i 400071 «5.t)
ESTIMATED HIGH TODAY
80, low today 65, high tomorrow
74, low yesterday 58, high
tomorrow in upper 70’s, low
tonight in low 60’s. Sunrise
tomorrow 7:27, sunset
tomorrow 7:55.
lawsuits?
(1) Persons who are entitled
to benefits payable without
regard to fault may not recover
those benefits a sedond time in a
lawsuit, but there is no limit
upon recovery of economic loss
which exceeds the amount pay
able.
(2) As for non-economic loss
(also called non-pecuniary loss,
general damages or damages
for pain and suffering) an in
jured person may recover such
damages against an insured
owner only if he sustains a
“serious injury.”
(3) There is no limitation
upon subrogation. Thus, in
surers can claim full reim
bursement against the insurer
of the person at fault but these
claims are subject to arbitra
tion.
What is a “serious injury”?
A serious injury is defined in
the bill as one which results in
(1) death, (2) a fractured bone,
(3) permanent disfigurement,
(4) dismemberment, (5) per
manent loss of a bodily function,
Griffin, Ga., 30223, Wednesday, April 3, 1974
Tyrone, Ga., in Fayette Co., up
side down.
A resident of eight months
standing, Galati has spent much
of that time as mayor.
“We got it through the legisla
ture to increase the size of
Tyrone from 150 to 1,000 people
by annexation. Now it comes up
for a local vote sometime in
May,” he said.
Galati is a mover, and when
he moves, whether in the busi
ness or political world, he’s
always out front.
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Til II
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A light plane hangs atop a fence at the general aviation section of the
Nashville airport following a tornado that touched down here. Some 56 planes were
damaged or destroyed. (UPI)
(6) permanent partial or total
loss of sight or hearing, (7)
injury resulting in medical
expenses having a reasonable
‘ value of SSOO, or (8) inability to
perform substantially all of the
duties of one’s usual occupation
for ten consecutive days. This
definition is the so-called
“threshold;” any person who
meets the threshold definition of
a serious injury has no limita
tion upon his right to sue; of
course he may not recover a
second time his economic loss
already paid or payable. Thus,
it can be seen that the limita
tions upon lawsuits are modest.
Who are entitled to benefits
payable without regard to fault.
Benefits are payable to the
owner of an insured vehicle and
members of his household while
occupying any motor vehicle or
if struck by any motor vehicle
while a pedestrian. Benefits are
also payable to any occupant of
the insured vehicle. These
benefits follow the insured
family and insured vehicle
within the United States, its
Grand jury asks
pool hall be shut
A petition to close the Sixth
Street Recreation Center was
filed in Spalding Superior Court
this morning.
It was filed by District At
torney Ben Miller following an
hour and a half called session of
the Spalding Grand Jury. Its
presentments recommended
that city and county officials
and the district attorney take
whatever action “they deem
necessary and proper to abate
an alleged public nuisance at a
business located in the City of
Griffin and Spalding County.”
The Sixth Street Recreation
Center was not named in the
presentments. However, the
Grand Jury investigated the
drug problem in Griffin and
Spalding County during its
special session in March and
made the recommendation in
view of the evidence presented
Whalen names committee
Judge Andrew Whalen, Jr.
has appointed a site selection
committee for the juvenile
detention center to be con
structed in Griffin.
territories and possessions, and
Canada. Pedestrians struck by
the insured vehicle in this state
are also covered.
When are benefits payable?
Within 30 days after insurer
receives reasonable proof of the
fact and amount of loss.
Overdue payments are subject
to penalty.
Are other benefits sub
tracted?
No. The benefits payable
without regard to fault are in
addition to all other benefit
sources and coverages.
Will the new broader
coverages cost more?
No, the bill provides for a 15
percent reduction in the
minimum required liability
coverages (which will include
benefits payable without regard
to fault). Also, medical
payments and uninsured
motorists coverages must be
reduced 50 percent. These
reductions must remain in
effect until March 1,1976, unless
the insurer can show that such
rates would be inadequate or
Daily Since 1872
to it.
The petition stated the owner,
Calton Ahl, maintains and uses
the business in a manner which
tends to the “immediate an
noyance of the citizens in
general,. . . tends to corrupt
the manners and morals of the
people . . . and is a public
nuisance.”
Six reasons were given:
1. Ahl knowingly allowed the
premises to be used for the
purpose of gaming on the
billiard tables, in violation of
Georgia law.
2. The defendant knowingly
allowed said premises to be
used for a place of bartering
and selling illegal drugs and
narcotics.
3. He knowingly allowed the
premises to be used as a place
for possession and use of illegal
drugs and narcotics.
It will serve the Mclntosh
Trail counties. These are:
Spalding, Butts, Fayette,
Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike
and Upson.
4. He knowingly allowed
persons under the age of 18-
years to work and gather in a
billiard room and to participate
in playing billiards without
being accompanied by a parent
or guardian and without having
a notarized statement from
such parent or guardian, in
violation of Georgia law.
5. He allowed said premises to
be used as a gathering place for
public school students during
the hours when schools were in
session.
6. He allowed the premises to
be used as a gathering of per
sons causing congestion and
interference with the use of the
public street and sidewalk
thereto by other citizens of the
community.
The petition asks that Ahl be
required by the usual process of
the court to appear in court to
answer the complaint and to
Members of the site com
mittee are:
Dr. Curtis Jackson, head of
the Georgia Experiment Station
here; Dewey Vickery, Jaycee
president; Mrs. Arthur Krepps,
Utility president; Mrs. Diane
Butler, BPW president; Eugene
Cook, Rotary president; Grady
Norton, Kiwanis president;
Cecil Byram, Exchange presi
dent; J. W. Roberts, ABC presi
dent; Tommy Powers, Lions
president; and Jerry Bilbro,
architect.
Gov. Jimmy Carter signed a
budget bill yesterday which
included $550,000 for the center.
Rep. Clayton Brown who had
led the move for the center said
construction could begin soon
after July 1 when the funds are
available. He said the facility
would employ 15 people.
“I wish to extend thanks to
Sen. Robert Smalley for his
immense assistance in carrying
the bill through the Senate and
also to Rep. John Carlisle who
assisted me in the House,” Rep.
Brown said today.
He thanked Rep. George
jeopardize its solvency. It
should be realized, however,
that medical and hospital costs
are among the most in
flationary factors in liability
insurance costs. This mandated
reduction is essentially the
same as that contained in all
proposed no-fault bills, in
cluding those with greater
limitations upon lawsuits.
When is the law effective?
Proof of insurance will be
provided by insurers and must
be furnished by motor vehicle
owners in order to license their
vehicles from and after
January 1, 1975. The law is ef
fective (presumably as to no
fault benefits and restrictions
on lawsuits) as to accidents and
injuries occurring on and after
March 1, 1975.
Is the law constitutional?
This question, raised by
opponents of the legislation, can
be answered only by our
Supreme Court. In the only two
states where the threshold
limitation on lawsuits reached
Forecast
Showers
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show cause, if he can, why the
business should not be abated as
a nuisance and he be enjoined
from operating either in the
premises at 129 South Sixth
street or at any other premises
located within the Griffin City
limits and that he be per
manently enjoined and
restrained from operating,
carrying on and maintaining
said business either personally
or through others, directly or
indirectly, said business as it is
now operated by the defendant.
Judge Andrew Whalen, Jr.
has scheduled a hearing for Ahl
on Friday, April 19 at 9 a.m. in
the Spalding Courthouse.
During their session this
morning, the Grand Jurors met
with the five City Com
missioners, Public Safety
Director Leonard Pitts, and
City Attorney Bob Smalley.
Busbee of Albany for seeing
that the money was not
removed from the authorization
bill.
“I am sure the people of
Griffin and Spalding County are
grateful to Gov. Jimmy Carter
for signing the bill into law, for
he could have vetoed the
measure. I discussed the matter
with the governor several times
and felt quite certain that he
would sign the authorization,
however, I am grateful to him
for giving his approval,” Brown
said.
He said when the center is
constructed, it means children
who get into trouble will not
have to be housed in a regular
county jail with felons and
convicted criminals.
Spalding as well as the other
Trail counties have no detention
facilities for juveniles.
In Spalding this sometimes
means young people in trouble
with the law are housed in the
county jail near cells of adult
prisoners.
their supreme courts
(Massachusetts and New
Hampshire, the latter in an
advisory opinion to their
legislature) the limitation was
held to be constitutional. In
addition, Michigan’s Supreme
Court held their definition of
serious injury (which contained
no dollar-threshold on medical
expenses) was not un
constitutionally vague. Florida
and Kansas Supreme Courts
have the issue before them but
have not ruled. No state
supreme court has held a
threshold limitation upon injury
lawsuits to be invalid.
Does the law include vehicle
damage?
No, damage to one’s vehicle
will be handled just as at
present. The bill does require
owners to carry property
damage liability coverage and
for insurers to offer optional
collision coverage, but claims
must be presented against the
person at fault.