The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 9

Commission i urns down auto insurance rate hike requests their rates for commercial autos, and one seeking a hike- in its homeowner's insurance rates. Besides State Farm, the companies seeking auto insurance rate hikes who were turned down were Southern and S.C. Farm Bureau Mutual Companies; Colonial Penn Insurance Criterion Insurance Liberty Mutual Insurance Aetna; and the Hartford group. Auto-Owners Insurance seeking to increase its homeowners insurance rates, likewise was refused by the COLUMBIA (AP) The South Carolina Insurance Commission, in a move unusual for its size, has turned down requests from eight insurance companies for rate increases. Rejected Thursday were requests from five companies for hikes in the premiums they charge for private passenger auto insurance.

The biggest setback was dealt to State farm Insurance the state's largest writer of auto insurance, which had sought an overall 17 per cent increase. The Insurance Commission also turned thumbs down on two companies which wanted to increase placing part of the blame on "expensive provisions written into law by the General Assembly." Truax said, "Without rate increases to meet increasing claims, companies will stop writing automobile insurance in this state, smaller companies will be forced out of the automobile insurance business, and less competition will mean higher rates eventually for the consumer." State Farm vice president Ron Arnold said his firm lost $2 million in South Carolina in 1976 and "we were trying as we should to correct that." end their coverage in the state. The South Carolina insurance News Service, an industry arm, said restricted markets, reduced competition and court battles could result from the rate hike refusals. Carlton Truax, editor and manager of the news, service, said "it is obvious that rates are inadequate" from the fact that insurance firms, especially those offering automobile insurance, are losing money in South Carlina. Insurance companies lost $15 million on auto insurance in South Carolina last year, Truax said, commission said, because the firm has been trying to limit its business to members of the armed services while avoiding a proper mix of business, which the commission said is intended by state law.

Military personnel are considered a high-risk category. Chief Insurance Commissioner John W. Lindsay, asked by fellow Commissioner Edward Kronsberg if the denials might cause some companies to pull out of the insurance market, replied, "I don't think so." Lindsay said other insurance firms were available if any of the eight companies should State Farm and S.C. Farm Bureau Mutual Companies were turned down, the Insurance Commission said, because the two firms had not properly accounted for income on company investments when they sought the hikes. Officials said Colonial Penn Insurance Co.

was denied an auto insurance hike because it was giving lower rates to persons in the 50-64 age range while improperly charging other age groups more to make up the difference. The increase sought by Criterion Insurance Co. was rejected, the The clans gather Five bagpipe bands are scheduled to join ranks to play the tune "Scotland The Brave" to open the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans Saturday and Sun-' day, re-enacting this scene from last year. The pipe bands to be featured at the 1977 Highland Games are the Asheville Highlanders, The Atlanta Pipe Band, The City of Dunedin (Fla.) Pipe Band, the Grandfather Mountain Highlanders, and the E.T.H.O.S. Pipe Band V1V i -ii 1 from Raleigh.

fcWVfts 5 ITS 1 I The 1 second front Index-Journal Greenwood, S.C, Friday, July 8, 1 977 9 1 Electric companies won't feel the heat until Monday Mss S.C. contestants in upper part of the state have the edge megawatts which was set last winter, according to company spokesman Albert Morris. "Obviously, next week we'll have a greater use of energy (when industries reopen). What effect that'll have, we don't know," Morris 8aid. Demand from Duke Power's 1.1 million customers in the two states was at 7,066 megawatts Thursday afternoon.

The peak so far this summer was 8,518 megawatts last Tuesday, but even that was no where near the record of 9,487 megawatts last Jan. 17. Both companies do not foresee any problems after the industries resume work, even with continued hot weather. "Of course, anything is possible, but I don't think it's probable," Coffin said. A string of "ifs," such as if equipment broke and if the weather got hooter, could combine to create problems, he said.

There aren't enough statistics to tell if consumers are heeding calls for conservation, but both Coffin and Morris said they believe consumers are cutting back. By MONTE PLOTT CHARLOTTE (AP) It will be next Monday before the major electric companies in North and South Carolina really feel the heat from these days of temperatures in the 90s. Despite the hot weather, Duke Power Co. and Carolina Power Light both serving customers in North and South Carolina say they have not been pushed by consumer demands. The reason is that many textile mills and other industries in both states are closed for the traditional weeklong July 4th vacation, spokesmen for the companies said Thursday.

"That's very definitely been a factor. We don't know how many mills and factories are off line right now," Duke Power spokesman Alex Coffin. "But next Monday we'll really know the effect (of the heat)." which serves 600,770 customers in the two states, has not come near its record demand of 5,512 GREENVILLE (AP) Contestants from the upper parts of South Carolina have a definite edge, after the second day of preliminary competition in the Miss South Carolina 1978 contest. Thursday night, Miss Rock Hill, Catherine Amelia Hinson, won in the swimsuit competition, and Miss Gaffney, Susan Diane Owens, placed first in the talent judging. Miss Hinson is a 21-year-old Winthrop College music major.

Miss Owens, a 19-year-old Wofford College student, sang, "He Touched Me" from the play, "Drat the Cat." They will join Wednesday's two preliminary winners and 37 other girls who will try to succeed Lavinia Merle Cox of Rock Hill Saturday night. More preliminary judging is scheduled for Friday. Wednesday's winners were Cynthia Lynn McDowell, Miss BISHOPVILLE, AND Lynetta Marie Neighbors, Miss Liberty. Miss McDowell, an 18-year-old horticulture major at Clemson University, won the swimsuit competition. Miss Neighbors, 19-year-old voice major at Central Wesleyan College, was the talent award winner.

The contestants will also be judged in evening gown competition. Ten semi-finalists and five finalists will be announced Saturday night before the winner is announced. The pageant is being CATHERINE HINSON SUSAN OWENS Mbj Rock Hill Miss Gaffney held in Greenville for the 20th straight year. Special guests will include 10 former Miss South Carolinas who will be hostesses or perform in the pageant. Court reverses sentence passed in Greenwood The South Carolina Supreme Court has reversed a circuit court judge's action and reinstated a probationary sentence for a Greenwood man charged with selling marijuana.

Greenwood attorney Rauch Wise had appealed resentencing of his client, Bruce Brewster, 23, who pleaded guilty Nov. 10 in Greenwood County Court of General Sessions before Judge Robert W. Hayes of Rock Hill. Judge Hayes sentenced Brewster to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine, suspended on payment of $1,000 and probation. As Brewster left the courtroom, his sister made improper remarks to Sheriff's Detective Charlie Webber, who reported the incident to the judge.

Judge Hayes then called Brewster back into the courtroom and revised his sen-lence to permit suspension only after service of a one-year jail term. In a two-paragraph opinion, the Supreme Court unanimously concluded Ihe resentencing was "clearly erroneous." Brewster, who had served two weeks of the revised sentence before his release on an appeal bond, was remanded to the local probation office for processing. Ellis begins new job handling federal funds Registration for swimming is still open Registration remains open this week for swimming classes at Ihe Sproles Recreation Center pool, which begin on Monday. Classes are scheduled as follows: children (aged 6-12) 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Monday through Friday; adults U8 and older) 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those interested may register at the Sproles swimming pool during Ihe pool's regular operational hours (Monday through Saturday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.

to 5 p.m.), or may call Randy Price at 229-2130. The two-week session of swimming lessons will cost $10, with payment due in advance of the first class. Fall is fatal HAMPTON Anthony Robinson of Greenwood died Thursday from injuries apparently sustained when he fell from a ladder while erecting a sign in Hampton. Hampton County Coroner W.E. Richards said Robinson was working on a ladder at a new store around 2 p.m.

Thursday when he fell some 12 feet, according to The State newspaper. Robinson was pronounced dead at a Walterboro facility en route to the Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston, Richards said. Court upholds adult bookstore operator conviction COLUMBIA (AP) Obscenity convictions and sentences of a Greenville adult bookstore operator have been upheld without comment by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Nathaniel Goodwin received a one-year sentence and a $1,000 fine in May 1976 after being convicted of selling an allegedly obscene, magazine to an undercover police officer. administrator.

Oliver has had a similar job for the past five years with the University of South Carolina. Also serving on the unit will be Elmer C. Whitten, who will serve as grants program coordinator. Gity Log COLUMBIA (AP) R. Archie Ellis, the controversial former state welfare chief, was to begin his first day today in a new job overseeing federal funds coming to South Carolina.

Ellis, who resigned under pressure as commissioner of the Department of Social Services, has been hired at $25,599 a year, state Auditor William T. Putnam said Thursday. The salary is about $9,000 less than Ellis received at the DSS. Ellis left DSS on Feb. 3 after he was criticized for the agency's handling of federal Medicaid funds.

His resignation took effect June 30. He had been on administrative leave since mid-May, and on sick leave before that. Gov. James B. Edwards is "still is flatly opposed" to Ellis' being rehired by the state, a spokesman for Edwards said Thursday.

The governor had been critical of the agency's administration of welfare programs and funds before its problems witii medicaid arose. Ellis' new title is grants services assistant administrator, a post in the finance division of the state Budget all Control Board. The office will be headed by George Oliver, the title grants services FIRE CALLS The Greenwood Fire Department answered the following calls during the past 24 hours: Lander College (Thursday) False alarm. Rose's parking lot (4:05 p.m. Thursday) A car was reported to be on fire.

Firemen were turned around en route because there was no fire. 601 North St. (10:38 p.m. Thursday) Checked on an odor but could find no fire. SHERIFF'S REPORT A mailbox was destroyed by vandals Thursdayr night Highland Dttve in Idlewood subdivision.

Bees stay busy in Park Seed flowers Bumble bees and honey bees keep busy at Park Seed here darf in and out of the celosia. (Staff photo) these daysTn the Company's trial gardens. A pairof bees.