The legislation, H.R. 333 or the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2000, has passed both houses of Congress and is in a conference committee. Interestingly, former President Bill Clinton vetoed the same bill last year and its authors decided not to challenge with an override.

The bill was bought and paid for by both commercial banks ($28.5 million in 2000 donations to federal candidates) and the three major credit card companies ($9.2 million in 2000 donations) which are, in order of size, MBNA, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley.

The target of the legislation is the national consumer debt of $1.6 trillion, an all-time record high which helped fuel the nation's stunning economic growth of the past decade.

Much of that growth came from consumer spending and much of that spending was from consumer credit and much of that has not been paid back.

In an anachronism, the very people credit card companies have solicited with a huge campaign of 3.3 billion credit card come-ons in 2000, will be the victims of this bankruptcy legislation.

The legislation is aimed at Chapter Seven of the bankruptcy code. Seven, according to local Bankruptcy Specialist Alvin Hunt, "is near total liquidation. Clients relinquish all assets but essential ones like equity in their home, cars, furnishings and clothes.

"Creditors get all the rest and when everything has been liquidated and the proceeds turned over, the remaining debt is erased," said Hunt.

Chapter Seven is determined by the Internal Revenue Service's Means Test and the bankruptcy legislation is aimed directly at this matrix, said Hunt. "If you compute that means test on some sort of a national average, for a poor state like Louisiana, it will be devastating.

"Thousands of people will not be eligible for Seven and interestingly, should an attorney's client not be deemed a Chapter Seven candidate, the attorney is stuck with the court costs and any other costs in trying to bring someone to bankruptcy court," added Hunt.

The other consumer bankruptcy chapter is Thirteen which is termed "working debtors." Under Thirteen, debtors whose outgo does not exceed their income, pay off as much debt as possible for three to five years and the remaining debt is forgiven.

Chapter Thirteen is much more palatable to banks and credit card companies, particularly since persons who have filed bankruptcy cannot file again for a period of six years so they could conceivably become credit-worthy again.

Depending on a person's situation, bankruptcy is either a safety net or desperation - or both. "When you can't pay your bills, when people are calling your wife and kids and saying ugly, rude things and your life is in the toilet, bankruptcy may look pretty good to you," said Hunt.

The two major consumer debt areas are from medical bills and credit card debt. Medical bills are often impossible to avoid but consumer debt through reckless credit card spending is avoidable, although Hunt and Bankruptcy Trustee Max Morris say the credit card companies have a beautiful strategy to attract and hold even irresponsible credit card holders.

"Where is the responsibility for the credit card companies?" Hunt asked rhetorically. "They say it is 'personal responsibility' but I say it cuts both ways. They hand out credit cards to people's dogs and every 18-year-old kid, with no credit history at all."

Hunt said the strategy works like this: "Give an 18-year-old kid a credit card with a $750 limit; when he or she reaches that, they increase the limit to $1,000. By the time the kid gets into college, all they can do is pay the minimum balance which is the interest and that person is hooked on credit card debt and the utter simplicity of flapping plastic.

"It is the hamster wheel of debt cycle and kids are hooked on the big credit card morphine party. I know those companies flood my friends' kids mailboxes with totally unsolicited credit cards," said Hunt.

The fact that American's do not save, but rather borrow from retirement funds exacerbates the problem, said Morris. "One hiccup in an earnings scheme and many people have a problem. There is often nothing to fall back on."

Morris tells a vivid, devastating story. He recalls a working couple who had been conservative all their lives, nearing retirement and with a home nearly paid for.

Then they are seduced by credit card appeals with low monthly interest payments. They begin to spend, slowly at first, and begin paying one credit card charge with another credit card and go to a third card when it comes in with a balance transfer offer at a lower interest rate.

Where they found themselves, said Morris, "was in bankruptcy. They were shell-shocked that it had happened to them; these are not high rollers; they are middle Americans who didn't understand the frightening circle of credit card debt and got rolled over."

"I had to put them in Chapter Thirteen because they both had good jobs, but their savings are gone, their retirement put way off and they are on a treadmill of savings passivity. And this happens all the time and most times, to people who cannot afford the artificial standard of living they are enjoying," said Morris.

"Switch your balances," said Hunt, "is a favorite credit card tactic. They suck you in with a low interest rate, then bang you up to 18 percent on revolving credit up to a certain threshold.

"And if you only pay the minimum balance of a debt of say, $15,000, I guarantee you it will take 20 to 25 years to pay off that debt, which is exactly what the credit card companies want," said Hunt.

A critic of the legislation, Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass, said he estimates MBNA's will reap an additional $75 million in profits next year as a result of the legislation.

Still, there are enough credit card payers who understand credit that the credit card companies' profits have increased by nearly 50 percent since 1998.

Hunt said this legislation does not cut both ways. "One third of the (bankruptcy) filers are women, usually single parents with children. Divorce may have been a major force in their bankruptcy; they now have custody of their children and they find themselves in horrible financial circumstances.

"Conversely, several years ago (New York real estate tycoon) Donald Trump put himself in bankruptcy and completely protected all his assets while keeping his creditors at arm's length through bankruptcy protection.

"That won't change for the high rollers but it will be devastating for the people at the other end and in Louisiana, we are a state of people at the lower economic end," said Hunt.

The following departments were located in the Magnolia Building: Sixth floor-Human Resources, Finance, Information Systems, Facility Management; Seventh floor- Administration, Planning and Development. The main office phone number, (337) 437-3500, will remain the same.

The Division of Engineering/Public Works will remain in its existing building at 1032 Ryan Street until construction is completed. They may be contacted directly at (337) 437-3310.

Parking for visitors to downtown Police Jury offices will remain at the lots located at the intersection of Gill Street and Pithon Street.

The construction project includes adding two floors to the Parish Government Building and bringing the entire building into compliance with today's building codes. The expansion when completed in late 2002 will more than double the size of the current building's square footage.

The expanded building, with approximately 50,000 square feet, will have many new features including a new two-elevator tower, an expanded Police Jury meeting room, two additional conference rooms and additional storage areas.

"McNeese students will be proud of the new complex," said Jimmy Pitre, director of the MSU Recreation Complex/Intramurals/Student Union. The two-story masonry and steel structure cost $2.784 million and took a little more than a year to complete. Pitre said the complex is totally funded from a self-assessed fee approved by McNeese students.

Construction added approximately 20,000 sq. ft. to the recreation complex, according to Pitre. The new facility will open up to both the existing first floor arena area and the existing 1/8 mile indoor track on the second level which was not previously accessible to the physically challenged.

"The first floor addition to the Rec Complex is comprised of a new weight room made up of 8,000 sq. ft. and has all new state-of-the-art equipment including a cardiovascular theatre, free weights and selectorized exercise equipment." He said the cardiovascular theatre is an exercise entertainment system that enables each participant, using a regular set of headphones, to listen to any one of a multitude of different audiovisual components, television, radio, tape player or CD player, while exercising on any piece of cardiovascular fitness equipment. "This includes eight big screen televisions, eight CD and FM radio players for our students," said Pitre.

Students will also find that the fitness programming for the new treadmills and cycles has better intensity levels. "This variable resistance equipment is high tech and allows students to select a variety of ranges and weights to fit their individual fitness needs," said Pitre.

The second floor consists of two aerobics areas, a conference room, general offices and a wellness center for consultations and assessments. The aerobics room, with its wood floors designed for low impact, and premium sound system, can be partitioned off to make two aerobics areas, said Pitre. "Or we can utilize the entire space for a multipurpose room that can give us additional space as needed for summer camps or on-campus meetings.

Eight new tennis courts are now available. "We visited newly constructed tennis courts at Texas A&M and at McMurry Park in Sulphur," said Pitre. "We've built fences to allow for court privacy and entrance at different angles around the courts, placed seating in the middle of the courts for better viewing and provided lighting. It's a modern facility."

Pitre said the new addition will provide a well-balanced recreational program, which for some students is an important aspect of university life. "We anticipate an increase in participation of activities that we provide our students." He said that surveys show that a Recreation Complex is a big recruiting tool for students. "Students want both modern facilities and entertainment opportunities that a recreation complex can offer," said Pitre.

Kiritsis received a Board of Regents' Support Fund Grant of $70,229 and $25,000 through the MSU Engineering Department to fund the lab. "We used the funds to establish the engineering measurements laboratory, which will be used to teach the junior level engineering measurements course," said Kiritsis.

"Engineering students will use state-of-the-art instruments and software to measure mechanical strain, vibration, acceleration, velocity, displacement, temperature, pressure and frequency," he added. The lab has four stations, with each station equipped with a computer, an oscilloscope, a function generator, a power supply and an interface module used to connect experiments to the computer.

"The engineering measurements lab provides hands-on experience with industrial grade equipment for our students," said Kiritsis. "This gives our engineering graduates an edge when recruited for jobs after graduation." All measurements are taken by the computer using Virtual Instruments written in Labview 6i. "Labview is a graphics-based software that allows users to build their own instrumentation systems with standard computers and cost effective hardware," said Kiritsis.

He said the engineering measurements lab is also available to local industry for collaborative efforts. "This includes helping local industries solve instrumentation problems or working with engineering faculty on research projects or students with a capstone project," said Kiritsis. He said the lab is open for tours to area schools and appointments can be made by calling him at 475-5857. Also, Kiritsis has been notified that he will receive another Board of Regents' Support Fund Grant of $82,000 this fall for the development of a Controls Systems Laboratory. "This lab will be used to teach the senior level control systems course to mechanical and electrical engineering students," he said.

The Monitor, a 987-ton armored turret gunboat, sank on New Year's Eve 1862 during a fierce storm 16 miles south of Cape Hatteras in 240 feet of water. The ironclad's turret, the first of its kind, could rotate its guns 360 degrees eliminating the need to maneuver the ship into firing position. The U.S. Navy plans to salvage the engine, turret, and other artifacts and display them in the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

Recovery of the Monitor's engine and turret will be done in three phases. Phase I of the 2001 operations ended in April after divers safely reached the wreck and made observations and measurements needed by Navy engineers and salvage crews to recover the engine and turret. During Phase II, and Engine Recovery System (ERS) was placed directly over the Monitor's engine and the ERS will lift the engine during July. Phase III will prepare the gun turret for recovery in 2002.

Global is currently involved with Phase II and III of the project, managed by NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Program, and anticipates participation in the 2002 turret recovery. Global is supplying a 1500' saturation system, consisting of a diving bell and pressurized living quarters, and support personnel for the Navy divers. The system's diving bell is lowered to transport divers to the sea floor and return them to the surface for reconnection to the pressurized living quarters. This system enables divers to remain at depth for approximately 20-30 days before decompressing.

Global Industries provides pipeline construction, platform installation and removal, diving services, and other marine support to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East/India, South America, and Mexico's Bay of Campeche. The company's shares are traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "GLBL."

The service involves providing council member-subscribers with a small pendant worn around the neck. "In the event of an emergency," Caraway said, "a touch of the button on the pendant immediately alerts the Acadian Ambulance Communication Center. At Acadian, computerized records are called up automatically, providing the subscriber's address, medical history and any instructions for dealing with specific medical conditions. Response is by a highly trained medical professional from Acadian Ambulance's nationally recognized staff."

Acadian On Call personnel will also install and provide full maintenance of the devices to assure that they operate at maximum efficiency in time of need, according to Caraway.

The partnership with Acadian On Call was initiated by the state organization, the Louisiana Association of Councils on Aging and made available to all local councils. The transition to the new service is being implemented on a parish-by-parish basis, according to Acadian On Call Manager Don Elkins. When completed, it will make the service, which currently serves 4,000 members, a statewide provider of personal emergency response systems, Elkins said.

Unlike other excimer laser systems, the FDA-approved LADARVision system uses a laser radar tracking system to track eye movements. Other excimer laser systems use video-based trackers, which track eye movements much more slowly. The LADARVision system allows for more accurate treatment and a lower rate of enhancement. This technology also allows for treatment of eyes that were previously thought to be untreatable.

The LADARVision system uses a second laser to analyze the position of the eye being treated. The second laser is directed by a separate, dedicated computer to instantly acquire and "lock on" to the treatment area, according to Dr. William Hart of Hart Eye Center. This is good for patients who are unable to hold their eye still for the LASIK procedure.

• Small Business: American Construction and Equipment
• Medium Business: Cameron State Bank
• Large Business: Westlake Group

The Eagle Award is given annually by the Police Jury to businesses in Calcasieu Parish who have excelled in their field of endeavor, positively impacted the area's economy through employment, and demonstrated a continuous commitment to community service through civic, charitable, educational, and related activities.

American Construction and Equipment is a general contracting corporation specializing in heavy construction for the local petrochemical complex in Southwest Louisiana, as well as commercial buildings and public works projects. The company was founded in 1997 at its current Highway 108 location. In 1998, American Construction and Equipment had nine employees, and this number tripled to 27 by the year 2000.

The company has committed many man-hours in support of several local agencies including McNeese, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, the Women's Shelter, and the American Heart Association. The firm has posted a stellar safety record since its inception, and emphasizes safety through annual training in a variety of areas.

Cameron State Bank is a financial institution offering a complete line of consumer and commercial financial products and services including investment and brokerage services, checking, savings, loans, internet banking and ATM services. It was established in Cameron Parish in 1966. They began operating in Calcasieu Parish in 1988 at the corner of Ryan Street and Alamo in Lake Charles, and now have 12 offices throughout the parish.

Between 1998 and 2000, the company's number of employees increased from 141 to 152, and sales revenue increased 71%. In 2000, employees contributed over 2,300 volunteer hours toward helping organizations such as United Way, American Cancer Society, the Volunteer Center, and Partners in Education.

The Westlake Group, located on Highway 108 south of Sulphur, began operations in Calcasieu Parish in 1986 with their Westlake Polymers facility. In 1991, the Westlake Petrochemical's facility was constructed.

The Westlake Group employs 528 people locally, and between 1998 and 2000, the revenues for their combined facilities increased 90%. In the year 2000, employees contributed over 8,600 volunteer man-hours toward a wide variety of worthy causes. These include Partners in Education, the Millennium Park project, career fairs at elementary schools, Multiple Sclerosis Walk, American Heart Association, and many others.

The Westlake Group emphasizes employee health and sponsors several initiatives such as walking programs, flu shot campaigns, and health fairs. The company is a sponsor of the Black Achievers mentoring program and also offers tuition reimbursement for employees and scholarship opportunities for their children.