Fontenot announces candidacy for city council

By Lisa Yates

Editor, The Times of SWLA

Getting city sewage service to south Lake Charles and widening streets to improve traffic flow are top priorities of John Fontenot, who announced his candidacy for the District G Lake Charles City Council Seat.

“Many people in south Lake Charles live within the city, but don't have city sewage – me, included,” Fontenot said. “In talking to the people of south Lake Charles, I understand that many want to see a widening of the streets to improve the traffic flow. I want to help make that happen.”

Fontenot made the announcement, Jan. 30, following Sheriff Tony Mancuso's presentation at the League of WoMen Voters noon meeting at Reeves Uptown Catering in Lake Charles.

He said the presentation provided some great tips, such as hiring a consultant. Fontenot hired FocalPoint Media & Marketing, saying the firm was instrumental in managing successful campaigns in the last election.

Fontenot said he entered the race because he believes the district needs strong leadership to represent the community.

“I want to serve my community and to help Lake Charles grow and improve,” he said.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Sowella Foundation, and the Calcasieu Women's Shelter. He serves the Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club as its sergeant-at-arms. He and his wife Jodi are members of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.

The District G council seat is now held by Mike Huber.

You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy in Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Takes a New, Aggressive Approach Toward Litter

 


 Ask almost anyone to identify a common problem facing all of Southwest Louisiana, and most people will tell you it’s litter. For quite some time, local leaders have tried to make a significant impact on the area’s troubling litter situation, but have achieved only limited success.
This past week, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury unveiled a different, more aggressive approach toward litter that is designed to tackle the issue with awareness, enforcement and education.
 
“You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy” is the new initiative’s slogan, which sends out the strong message to the community that the police jury and local law enforcement are tired of being “nice” about this issue and are now taking litter offenses very seriously.
“Research shows that litterers know they’re not supposed to litter,” says Jason Barnes, Special Programs Coordinator for the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. “Litterers are more concerned about what will happen to them if they are caught. We’re telling them straightforwardly, ‘You litter, you pay!’”
 
For the past nine months, the police jury has met with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s office to reexamine and modify the current litter enforcement law. “Tickets were not being written for one reason or another, and our main goal was to streamline the enforcement of both tickets and fines to ensure that the system would be more progressive,” says Barnes.
 
Under the new litter law, which was adopted as a parish ordinance at the beginning of February, a first-time offender will be fined $40. No court appearance is required, unless the violator would like to contest the charge. The fine will be paid to the District Attorney’s office and placed into the parish’s beautification fund, which was created several years ago. If the ticket has not been paid within the specified time—about six weeks—the District Attorney’s office will notify the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the offender’s driver’s license until the fine has been paid.
 
The second offense carries a $100 fine and requires a court appearance, with an additional $150 in court costs. The costs continue to rise with additional offenses.
 
 “We at the sheriff’s office want to play an active role in fighting litter through enforcement of the litter laws. I think everyone would agree that litter is ugly, so it’s time to tell people who litter that we won’t tolerate their destruction of the natural beauty of Calcasieu Parish,” says Sheriff Tony Mancuso. “If you get caught littering, you’re going to have to pay for your mistake.”
District Attorney John DeRosier says, “We are often judged by our personal appearance, and that applies to the grounds, roads, streets and properties of Calcasieu Parish. We need to make our community look better. It makes us look better, it helps our economy and it’s just the right thing to do.”
 
Litter Hotline
 
Police officers will not be the only people on the lookout for litterers. The police jury and the sheriff’s office have set up a new local hotline for citizens to report littering. The number is 493-LITR (5487).  Residents who witness someone littering can call the hotline and report the crime to the sheriff’s office. All that will be needed is some basic information, primarily the license plate of the violator.
 
The owner of the vehicle will then be sent a letter stating that they have been reported for littering and that they should consider the correspondence a warning. For positive reinforcement, a litterbag will be enclosed in the envelope for encouragement not to repeat the crime.
“The single biggest weapon in the program is not necessarily the fine or the cops catching these litterers in the act; it’s our community jumping in and becoming involved,” says Barnes. “With community involvement in the program, litterers now have to worry and be mindful of the everyday citizen watching them too.”
 
Next Steps
 
Education is crucial to the new litter program. Studies show that children form much of their general behavior by the fourth grade. For this reason, the police jury feels that it is just as important to take aggressive strides toward educating the parish children about litter. New programs, including litter awareness and prevention in the curriculum and special assemblies, are just a few ideas currently being discussed.
 
The new enforcement measures focus on litterers who throw out smaller litter, such as cigarette butts or soft drink cans, but the police jury is also targeting offenders who dump large amounts of trash along roadways and on private property. This is known as “gross littering,” and a special group of law enforcement officers is assigned to this crime, which is punished by heavier fines and court appearances.
 
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office encourage residents to join the fight against litter by reporting offenders, and to gain awareness about the effects of litter by visiting www.dontbetrashy.org. Throughout the year, the police jury will promote “You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy!” throughout the parish, and the sheriff’s department will be watching closely for litterers.

The Downtown Development Authority Annual Review

By Bill Krull






Her black eyes blazing like a true believer’s, GiGi Kaufman declared that the Lake Charles lakefront/downtown development vision is a happening thing that’s fast becoming reality. While things aren’t happening fast enough to suit her or the other members of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the owner of GiGi’s Fitness Centers is pleased with the plan’s progress.

The DDA celebrated its first anniversary in December with a review of the year’s accomplishments. The heavy lifting to date, Kaufman said, has mostly been transparent, involving planning, doing due diligence and figuring how to use OPM (other people’s money) to leverage the $18 million voters gave lakefront/downtown development as part of a broader $90 million bond issue okayed by local voters in 2007.

“While $18 million is a lot of money, especially considering it’s the public’s money, we (the DDA) knew that with some extra effort and a little patience, we could bring in additional funds from outside sources.” Kaufman said.  “So far, we’ve brought in an additional $9-10 million from the federal and state government and other sources.

Kaufman said they basically traded the time it took writing grants and doing all the groundwork needed to get that extra money to build the lakefront/downtown that the people deserve.

“We understand that lakefront/downtown development is just one part of a much greater area-wide effort to spur economic development and enhance our quality of life. But, we also know an attractive, vibrant urban core is absolutely vital to a region’s growth,” she added.

Although much of the DDA’s accomplishments to date include intense research and planning on the much-needed infrastructure action items, which is invisible to the general public, they have made substantial progress. These projects include:

Bord Du Lac Handicap Curb Cuts, Drainage Box and Pavement Repair Project

•    Installation of handicap curb cuts and drainage boxes as well as repair of pavement as needed. The project was completed in mid-November. The date for Notice to Proceed on this project was Oct. 6, 2008, with the project being completed within 20 working days. Norwood Brothers Construction II, LLC, was awarded this project with the bid of $45,465.00.

Lakefront Promenade Palm Project

•    Planting and maintenance of specified palm trees along the Lakefront Promenade, managed by the Moore Planning Group. Landscaped Management Services Inc. was awarded this project with the bid of $99,153.24.

Veterans Park Memorial Landscape Renovation/Revitalization Project

•    Includes the renovation and revitalization of the landscaping at the Veterans Park Memorial. A New Leaf was awarded this project with the bid of $21,000. It was certified complete Nov. 21, with ongoing maintenance to continue through Feb. 20, 2009.

Renovations

•    Improvement of the visual image and upkeep of downtown by renovating and maintaining overgrown lots, substandard and vacant buildings, broken sidewalks and planters, and landscaping. Considerable progress for this $150,000 project has been made and is ongoing.

“We made a lot of progress last year towards the people’s vision,” said DDA director Lori Marinovich. “We spent lot of time and effort planning and coordinating. We are determined to be responsible stewards of the public’s money. To date, we’ve secured almost $30 million from federal and state resources on top of our $18 million budget.”

Marinovich pointed out that this isn’t a short-term renovation project. “We’re truly building for the future to make the quality of life here the standard for the nation for generations to come,” she said.

DDA Chair Rick Richard agrees. “Our state has many areas in desperate need of improvement if we are to realize our potential,” he said. “We have to stop the out-migration of our best and brightest people and bring people back. We have to have a well-trained and motivated workforce ready to start work on Day One as business and industry is attracted to Southwest Louisiana because of the unique competitive advantages we offer.”

“Doing this requires an all-out effort from everybody—not just the government and economic development organizations,” he said. “We have to lift the many, many of our fellow citizens and children from the despair of poverty.”

Behind the dense Power Point exhibits and hard-to-read charts and graphs lies a vibrant, stimulating urban core, reminiscent of the downtown’s glory days. A good example: Where others see Pithon Coulee as a drainage ditch overgrown with weeds, Kaufman envisions a scenic waterway fronted by broad paths filled with active people.

“I envision it as a place where people can run, bike, roller blade or simply stroll along with their families,” Kaufman said. “Best of all, Pithon Coulee runs through a lot of the city and this trail will help connect us as a community.”

That’s what drives Kaufman.

“I was born and raised here and this area has been great to my family and me,” said Kaufman, who started GiGi’s Fitness Center about two decades ago. “The people here helped make my business a success, and I believe we all share a duty to help make this a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

The downtown urban core serves as a crossroads--a common meeting ground for diverse groups of people, Richard said. “Reaching our potential is going to require innovation, creativity from all of us. It’s a time and the place for those who dream big, see what can be, and are unafraid to take risks.”

Richard noted that historian Joseph Tregle wrote that in Louisiana, the past and the present have always lived side by side. “That’s changing,” he explained. “No longer can we let our past dictate our future. We have our destiny in our hands. A thriving urban core is vital to achieving that destiny. It’s a place where business, finance, entertainment, the arts and people from all over meet. It’s where ideas are born and where growth begets more growth.”

Comparison Shopping for Bandwidth in SWLA

By R.F. Horvath
Co-owner of Infinity Prime Media, LLC
www.infinityprimemedia.com


Whether you are initiating your service for the first time, moving to a new location, or thinking of moving your Internet service to a different provider, you're probably interested in getting the best deal that you can for your dollar.  In most cases, this will probably mean determining how much bandwidth you can afford. 

For the past few years, communications companies have been seeking to meet all of your needs by offering all, or most, of these services, rolled together in convenient packages. Sorting all of this out can be time consuming, and unless you are well versed in "bandwidth-ese,” it can also be confusing. 

We'll be examining the offers of the five main service providers in SWLA.  Of these five, AT&T has the largest area of coverage. The other four, Cameron Communications, Century Tel, Communicomm and SuddenLink, provide service to various parts of our area. Most residents will have at least two choices of providers. 

We're going to primarily focus on the basic - read least expensive - Internet packages, with and without other bundled services.  Keep in mind that every provider allows for cheaper costs for each individual package with the addition of the other services they offer.

Before we begin, let's cover some basic Internet terminology necessary in understanding what you are actually purchasing. 

"kbps" is short for kilobit per second, or 1,000 bits of information per second.  Bits of what?  To get an idea of what is meant by the term kb, understand that a basic text document, as is created by Microsoft's Notepad program, is about 4k.  So, with an old 56k dialup modem, you could transfer a theoretical maximum of 14 "txt" documents per second. 

The term "Mbps," or Megabit per second is 1,000 kb or 1,000,000 bps.  This means you can receive 14,000 of our example txt documents per second on a 1Mbps line.  So, when you see that a provider is offering a 1Mbps connection that is the capped limit of the download speed only.  The upload speed is typically one-half to one-eighth of that speed. You'll never get the same speed going out as you do coming into your computer.

AT&T
"Ma Bell" offers a basic DSL Internet package of 768kbps for only $14.95 per month.  When you couple that with basic no-frills telephone service your bill is just $27.95 per month.  AT&T's website touts television and wireless Internet access but does not seem to be available to this area just yet.  Of course, they also provide cell phone communications that can be coupled to your existing service as well.  You can reach AT&T at (800) 626-9149 or at www.att.com for on their services.


Cameron Communications
The Carlyss-based telecom provides fiber optic Internet, television and telephone to the home and business in some parts of Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes. The base Internet package features a 6Mbps for only $39.95 a month.  Adding a telephone line is only $10 dollars extra; long distance calls are 8¢ a minute. Their-top-of-the-line package offers 89 channels of television, the previously mentioned telephone package as well as a 10Mbps connection, and other perks for $119.95 a month.  All of Cameron's services have a two-year agreement.  You can contact Cameron Communications at (800) 737-3900 or visit their website at www.camtel.com for more information.


Century Tel
Century Tel provides telecom services to Allen, Jeff Davis, Beauregard parishes as well as Iowa and DeQuincy in Calcasieu.  Their most basic Internet package includes a 512kbps connection for $29.95 per month with a basic phone line and $49.95 per month for a 1.5Mbps connection with no phone service at all.  However, for just $10 a month more, Century Tel provides a connection that can reach 10Mbps, if that is all you are asking for.  Century Tel also provides television access through DISH-TV as well as telephone services.  Their most expensive package, that provides the most features, offers a 3 to 10 Mbps DSL connection, television access and many unlimited phone features for only $109.89 per month. Their contact information is 1-800-831-1733 or www.centurytel.com.

Communicomm
Communicomm provides Westlake, Moss Bluff and DeQuincy with television and Internet service via cable access.  If you just want Internet without television, they charge $31.95 for a 256k connection and offer up to 5Mbps for only $49.95 a month.  Basic 256k connectivity with cable rounds up to only $52.99 per month.  This allows you 63 channels of television, but if you'd prefer 200 channels of digital television for only an extra $9.95 per month, that is available as well.  Communicomm does not provide telephone services.  Their contact information is (800) 392-2662 and www.netcommander.com

SuddenLink
SuddenLink provides cable access to the Lake Charles and Sulphur areas.  They charge only $33 for an Internet connection of 1Mbps.  Unlimited phone services costs only an extra $10 per month.  Bump that up to an 8Mbps connection and add basic no frills cable, and unlimited phone service and that becomes $117 a month.  SuddenLink's top of the line digital service bundle also a includes a 10Mbps connection, a rented cable modem, a digital video recorder and one premium channel for a flat $150 a month with no contract to sign.  You can contact SuddenLink at (877) 694-9474 or at www.suddenlink.com


Final Considerations
It isn't overly possible to recommend one service over another. It all boils down to how much you want and how much you want to spend and who you are able to get service with. No one area in SWLA is covered by all five of the providers listed in this article. It isn't always just as easy as picking and choosing from the rates and packages listed here. Many now choose to "blackline" traditional phone connections in favor of cell phones.  Doing so can lower your communications costs somewhat, but usually not by more than $10-20 per month.  The most important thing to keep in mind is that for each feature you tack on, the other features go down in cost.  In other words, the more you spend, the more you get.

Richard F. Horvath has 22 years experience in the Information Technology field and is co-owner of Infinity Prime Media, LLC (www.infinityprimemedia.com). You can contact him at richard@infinityprimemedia.com . In no way does the preceding article represent an actual consultation session. Richard F. Horvath, Infinity Prime Media, LLC or the Times SWLA are in no way responsible and do not accept any responsibility for any damages, legal fees, data failure or malfunction that may occur as the result of a person using advice given in the preceding article.

SWLA Arts & Humanities Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Grants $50k

By Bill Krull
Spinnaker Communications, Inc.
www.spinncomm.com


One of the judges choosing the top students in Calcasieu Parish, Hal McMillin, found that students by a huge consensus believe funding the arts takes priority over even athletics. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President agrees with them.

 McMillan, along with CPPJ Special Programs and Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jason Barnes and Irene Vandever, Executive Director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, announced a $50,000 grant program to enhance and build this vital aspect of Southwest Louisiana life.

“This grant is about Calcasieu Parish and what we can do to support this critically important part of our community,” McMillin said. “The Police Jury so believes in the arts’ value that we passed this (grant) with no discussion. It needed no discussion. The money comes from riverboat gaming revenues. That’s money going right back to help Calcasieu Parish.”

The grant funds are available to all sectors of the arts community, Barnes said. “One of the greatest strengths of our corner of Louisiana is our culture. It defines who we are,” he said. “The arts and humanities sector is our super-secret economic weapon. It’s the life of our area. You know, cooking here is an art in and of itself and grant money is available for it.”

The Arts and Humanities Council will administer the funds, Vandever said. The grant monies will fund arts organizations and provide the impetus for art professionals and non-profit groups to expand and enhance their cultural activities in the parish.

While the arts may be one of those warm and fuzzies, they have a very real impact on Louisiana’s economy. The state’s cultural economy generates nearly $700 million annually, with nearly $14 in return for every dollar invested. Then, too, its contribution to the region’s quality helps retain its best and brightest people and lures new investment. Visitors to the state spend close to $6 billion each year, 3.8 percent of the State Gross Product.

“The cultural economy of Louisiana has an enormous impact on the overall economy of the state, accounting for 144,000 jobs or 7.6 percent of the employment base. Cultural economy jobs were growing over twice as fast as job growth statewide before the Katrina and Rita,” said Dabne Whitemore, representing Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu and executive director of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Initiative.

The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is the umbrella organization for the Arts and Humanities in the five-parish Imperial Calcasieu region. It strives to be at the “heart” of what matters with respect to the area’s cultural foundation. It is dedicated to supporting, developing and enriching all forms of cultural expression for the region. It strives to be a clearinghouse of information for artists, art organizations and the community in the region.

The Council publishes a Cultural Resource Directory with information about the artists and organizations that contribute to Southwest Louisiana’s cultural life. For more information about the grant program or the Council, call (337) 439-2787 or visit their Web site at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org. The deadline to apply for the grant is March 2 at 5 p.m.

Governor Jindal Announces Plans to Restore SWLA Coastal Wetlands

By Bill Krull
Spinnaker Communications, Inc.
www.spinncomm.com



With each Louisiana coastal wetlands study, the alarm bells ring more stridently. Each year, the Gulf of Mexico captures 30 or more square miles of the state’s unique and priceless wetlands.

“There are so many reasons why protecting our coastal wetlands is important, not only for Southwest Louisiana but also for our state. We know, studies have shown, every couple of miles of healthy wetlands reduces tidal surge by a foot. We know, studies have shown, we are losing our coast far too quickly—30 miles a year across our state—200 miles in 2005 alone,” said Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal at a Lake Charles press conference. “Studies have shown that the time to act—that window—is shrinking. We’ve got to act now. We don’t need more studies; we need more action.”

That action came when Jindal, Garrett Graves, Director of the Office of the Governor for Coastal Activities, and Don Young, Executive Director of Ducks Unlimited (DU), signed a $3.26 million cooperative agreement at the Lake Charles Civic Center to bring back to life and safeguard nearly 2,500 acres of Southwest Louisiana wetlands.

The funds--$1 million from DU thanks to federal funds from the North American Wetland Conservation Act, $2.1 million from the State’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and the rest from private donors--will be used to build marshland terraces.

Marsh terraces to be built
The public/private venture will build almost 250,000 feet of marsh terraces in Black Lake Marsh and next door in the West Hackberry Marsh. The terraces will help restore areas that were seriously damaged by wave action and saltwater intrusion, largely from Hurricanes Rita and Ike. Rebuilding these marsh terraces will spur plant growth, improve water quality, limit saltwater intrusion and break up waves that are the main cause of coastal erosion.

Joint ventures such as this and a similar agreement signed last year between the State’s Department of Transportation and Development, Wildlife and Fisheries and the Coastal Conservation Association, illustrate the importance of government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations joining forces in a common-sense strategy to meet critical issues, Jindal said.

“These projects show what we can accomplish when we work with organizations like Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association—organizations that share our mission of rebuilding our coastal wetlands and our central natural habitats while better protecting our people from future storms” Jindal said.

“Let me tell you a little bit about the natural habitat, why it’s important. If you’re like me: a fisherman, a hunter or if you just enjoy the outdoors, these terraces will restore an area that is vital to the natural habitat for ducks, geese and other wildlife that depend on coastal marshes in our state for their survival,” he said.

The eroding coastline and vanishing marshes are threats that most people understand in the abstract—they’re important but aren’t top of the mind concerns.

Coastal system unique
Yet, Louisiana’s Coastal Cheniere is unique in the world—a diverse and complex ecosystem vital not only to Louisiana, but also the nation. It’s host to 10 million wintering waterfowl—20 percent of the North American population. The eroding coastline and vanishing marshes help protect nearly 50 percent of the nation’s oil refining capacity and nearly a third of its oil and gas supply.

The coast has five of the country’s busiest ports in the U.S., serving 10 of the nation’s major waterways. These facilities handle 19 percent of annual U.S. waterborne commerce. More than 26 percent of North America’s fisheries catch comes from Louisiana.

The biggest threat, though, is to one of the most vibrant cultures in the world. More than two million people live and raise their families in South Louisiana—a cultural gumbo pot of Cajun, Creole, French, African American, Native American and many other cultures.

“The state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Master Plan not only aims to restore wetlands and protect communities, but also preserve and protect the cultural heritage and wildlife that make our coast so important and unique,” Graves said, “A project like this one, in which the state works with a conservation organization like Ducks Unlimited to provide better protection, better habitat for waterfowl and to preserve the resources that make our state such a tremendous place to hunt and fish are exactly the kind of projects we will be building.”

Duck hunting in Louisiana is more than a sport—it’s a rite of passage that draws hunters from around the globe. Then, of course, is the world-famous fishing. Fishermen from all over the continent travel to the Louisiana coast to pursue redfish, speckled trout, and flounder, providing revenues to the state and livelihoods to its citizens. Louisiana, said Young, is the North American “capital” of natural resources.

“Today’s agreement with the State of Louisiana represents yet one more tangible example of Ducks Unlimited’s commitment to protecting this vital coastline for wildlife and people. Conservation of the Gulf Coast’s wetlands is one of the key priorities of Ducks Unlimited’s continent-wide Wetlands for Tomorrow Campaign,” Young said. “This noteworthy undertaking will protect vital energy and social infrastructure as well as the wildlife and recreational opportunities the coast of Louisiana is so well known for. We thank Governor Jindal for his strong leadership in making this project a reality.”

Ducks Unlimited is the largest waterfowl conservation organization in the world, with close to 700,000 members in the U.S. and nearly 17,000 in Louisiana. One of the top priorities of Ducks Unlimited is to preserve essential habitat for ducks and geese.

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Because of the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in December 2005, the Louisiana Legislature restructured the State’s Wetland Conservation and Restoration Authority to form the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA). Act 8 of the First Extraordinary Session of 2005 expanded the membership, duties, and responsibilities of the CPRA and charged the new Authority to develop and implement a comprehensive coastal protection plan, including both a master plan and annual plans.

“The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. This single state authority integrated coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana’s coast,” Graves said.

“Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA works to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation’s critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come,” he added.

Young Adults and the Computer

By Lauren de Albuquerque
Managing Editor, The Times of SWLA

 

The Times recently ran an article about senior citizens and their use of computers. It was interesting to learn how folks who did not grow up with the modern conveniences that we all take for granted have taken to Internet. Young adults, on the other hand, have been raised on computers. While both age groups share similarities in how they use them (networking, purchasing, Web-surfing), the younger generation uses computers much more extensively.

According to survey results recently released by a nationwide telephone poll of more than 1,000 households commissioned by the Round Table Group (RTG), a U.S. consulting firm of university professors, the Internet is quickly displacing older media, such as television and newspapers, as the prime source of important information for the U.S.'s young adults.

The poll revealed that 67 percent of Americans aged 18-24 live in households that use the Internet to gather key information, compared to a nationwide average of just 46 percent who use the Internet for that purpose.

Among those young adults, 59 percent say their households currently receive more "useful information" from the Internet than from newspapers. Fifty-three percent say they receive more "useful information" from the Internet than from television.

According to the study, 84 percent of young adult Internet users say their families are more likely to use the Internet to retrieve useful information than they are likely to go to the public library, and 68 percent of the those households are more likely to consult some specific questions on the Internet than turn to a newspaper.

The Times interviewed some local young adults to find out their computer habits.

Chase Wilson, 26, is a financial analyst at ConocoPhillips who depends on his laptop for everything. “I was probably 3 or 4 when I used a computer for the first time,” he said. “At first, I didn't think it was anything special; computers are something that I've been exposed to most of my life.”

It wasn't until his parents got AOL (he was in the sixth grade) that he really became interested in computers. “I thought it was fascinating to be able to communicate with friends over the Internet. I was also amazed at how quickly and easily you could get information without having to make a trip to the library,” he said.

At home, he has a Toshiba laptop that he’s happy with. He’s an avid Internet user, although he doesn’t have time for computer games. “I’m working toward my MBA in an online program through the University of Tulsa,” he said. “I also use the Internet to trade stocks, pay bills, make purchases, and conduct research.”

Wilson used to have a blackberry, but he now owns a Sprint Instinct. “I can still get my e-mail on that phone, plus live TV, radio, GPS, etc.” He also has an iPod, “but not too many other gadgets.”

Wilson does all of his work on his computer and the Internet. “I use a number of computer programs to analyze data and prepare presentations,” he said. “The Internet allows me to send and receive information and have web conferences with co-workers all over the word. I couldn't even imagine how hard it would be to do the type of work that I do without using a computer.”

As the assistant director of the Children’s Museum in Lake Charles, Allyson Blackwell, 28, leads a busy life, and finds the computer invaluable. She looked back on the first time she ever used one.

“I believe I was in the second grade, so I was about six years old. I was in the library during our library day and the librarian brought us to a group of computers and told us that we were going to read a story on the computer. I think it was about the mouse and the tiger… something about a thorn being stuck in the lion’s paw. I remember being a little nervous.”

She doesn’t think there are many days that’s she’s not on the Internet for either professional or personal use. “For work, it is a constant way of communication. I use it to receive and send messages (e-mails) to co-workers, board members and people in the community,” she said.

“Part of my job is public relations, so I am constantly sending out information regarding events and programs. I also maintain our Web site, which gets information out to the public 24-7. I also use the Internet as a research tool. It is easier than going to the library, and the amount of knowledge on the Internet is almost endless.”

At home, she uses her Compaq ( a PC—she’s said she’s not a laptop junkie!) for almost everything. “I use it to pay bills, check the weather, order gifts, research vacation spots and sometimes, just for entertainment. Recently, I used it to find a new home!”

Blackwell also enjoys the social aspect of the Internet. “I use it to stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues,” she said. “Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and other social networks are wonderful ways to communicate, too. I use these networks to keep in touch and share pictures with friends from high school and college.”

Soon to be married, Blackwell said that the Internet played a huge part in her wedding plans.

“The Internet made wedding planning a little easier. I was able to get ideas on decorations, cakes, hairstyles, music and so much more,” she said. “I would have never been able to pick out a wedding dress or bridesmaid dresses without seeing different styles online. Now, you can also find the “dos and don’ts” of wedding planning and wedding planning timelines on thousands of helpful websites. Couples can even make a website to share with family and friends the celebration of their day. They can post pictures, events and registries online.”

If she had to, she could live without a computer, but it wouldn’t be easy. “It would be very hard to get used to,” she said. “I am very spoiled by it. Technology and the Internet have made my life so much easier to send and receive information, it would be hard not to have it around. With it, it’s so much easier to stay organized.”

“I believe that in today’s world, knowledge is definitely power,” she said. “Computers and the Internet offer so many uses and ways to gain knowledge! Without them, you are at a disadvantage.”

Blackwell doesn’t have a Blackberry, but it’s on her wish list. Her fiancé, however, has a Sprint Instinct. “He loves it,” she said. “He’s also into Playstation 3 and X-box. I’m not really into all that.”

Because of her position at the Children’s Museum, Blackwell has a huge interest in how computers benefit children.

“I believe the earlier a child has access to knowledge and the computer in today’s world, the better,” she said, cautioning that it has to be balanced with outdoor activity, play and interaction for a well-balanced child. “It helps promote imagination, growth and creativity. Parents must restrict what sites children can visit and how much time is spent on the computer. With these things in place, the sky is the limit on what can be learned.”

Tiffany Gardner, 28, a pharmacy tech for a Lake Charles health care facility, used computers for the first time at school to do word-processing type of schoolwork. “The first thing I remember about the actual Internet was looking at chat rooms,” she said.

As a pharmacy tech, she uses the Internet to purchase items for work, order medications, and check drug facts and information. “Personally, I use it to look up different things, share pictures and shop,” she said. But it’s not a huge deal in her life.

“I’m not as attached to it as so many people are nowadays, but I do enjoy having it!” she laughed.