STRICTLY BUSINESS: MOST PEOPLE DO NOT FEAR THE Y2K BUG

Even with all the hype surrounding the Y2K bug and its potential for creating computer-related chaos come midnight Dec. 31, 1999, or a second after -- 12:00:01, Jan. 1, 2000 -- there are a few Americans out there who are unaware that there may even be a Y2K problem.

"What's Y2K?" asked one the 100 workers who were surveyed during a recent Southeast Missourian poll.

More than two-thirds of the employees surveyed (70 percent) are not worried about the repercussions of Y2K at all. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, about 9 percent of employees are worried that they will not be able to get food, water, electricity or other essentials as of Jan. 1.

Falling between the two extremes, 6 percent fear they will not be able to get paid, and 6 percent are worried about losing their computer files at work.

The remaining 10 percent of the more than 100 people who answered written survey forms, had a few other concerns. Some (4 percent) were a "little nervous," some were concerned about a big rush for gasoline (2 percent) and the final 4 percent were concerned that other nations might not be Y2K ready.

The Missourian poll on attitudes toward the Y2K bug follows along the same lines as a nationwide telephone survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) for the Accountants on Call's, which periodically scheduled survey for its "Profiles of the American Workers" series.

The ORC survey, based on telephone interviews with a sample of 700 employed adults revealed 74 percent with "no fears at all," and 14 percent worried about food, water and other essentials. In between, 5 percent fear they may not be able to get paid, and 3 percent are worried about losing their computer files. Three percent are unaware there may even be a Y2K problem.

Both surveys asked the following questions:

* You are not nervous at all.

* Are you worried about being paid?

* Are you worried about food, water, electricity and other essentials?

* Are you worried about your computer files?

According to both survey, women feared problems more than men. In the national poll, 28 percent of women fear Y2K problems of some sort, compared to 16 percent of men. In the Missourian poll, 20 percent of the women feared some problems, compared to 11 percent of the men.

Both polls were conducted before the announcement last week that businesses and individuals may have a new worry: Computer viruses triggered by the new year.

Anti-virus experts say they have detected a new virus that could make computers appear to have a Y2K problem Jan. 1. When the computer restarts, the virus tries to erase data.

At least four other Y2K-related viruses are known to exist. Two of them are also timed for the new year, and two activate right away and spread by posing as Microsoft programs for fixing Y2K problems or programs that count down to the new year.

Anybody want to change their vote?

Record construction

Construction totals are up everywhere Locally, state and nationally.

In Cape Girardeau, construction permits passed the $50 million mark early last month, boosted by a $15.6 million permit for improvements to the Cape Girardeau Water Treatment Plant.

Since then a couple of $2 million-plus permits helped shove the total past the $60 million mark for the first time in the city's history.

November has been among one of the best months in city permit history.

Check the November results:

* $15.6 million permit, water treatment plan.

* $525,000 residential, one home at $85,000 and three two-family buildings, for a total of $440,000.

* $2,322,300 for new Jim Wilson facility on Southern Expressway.

* Five other commercial structures, $566,643.

* Additions, remodeling, etc., $193,000.

* Other permits -- signs, demolitions, remodeling -- $257,662.

Count it all up and you have 41 permits in the amount of $19,464,605.

The November totals boosted the year's total to $57,694,842.38.

There was little let-up the first few days into December. Permits included a $2.5 million building in Doctors Park and additions to some other structures (over $12,000), and all at once, the year's total soared past the $60 million mark. The previous high was $47.9 million in 1992.

Meanwhile, construction of single-family homes in Jackson this year is on a pace to break the record 145 set in 1994. Home growth has been on the grow in Jackson throughout the 1990s. In 1998, there were 119 homes built in Jackson.

These city totals do not include two nearby major commercial expansions -- Procter & Gamble's $350 million addition to its Cape Girardeau County plant near Fruitland and BioKyowa's $40 million for expansion to its swine and poultry plant in Nash Road Industrial Park, and the company's new $50 million food plant. The city's construction permits also do not include work on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, under construction across the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois.

Statewide, construction is up about 13 percent in Missouri, according to F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw-Hill Cos., which keep tabs on state and national totals, producing the Dodge Reports and Sweet's Catalog files. Missouri nonbuilding construction -- streets, highways, bridges, etc. -- is up 12 percent; residential construction up about 4 percent and commercial an other non-residential building is up is up 3 percent.

Nationally, construction is up 8 percent from the same period last year.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.