<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 4,186 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,651 <ALLOWANCES> 4,749 <INVENTORY> 3,655 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 47,077 <PP&E> 71,874 <DEPRECIATION> 5,900 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 176,461 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,719 <BONDS> 83,043 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 50,162 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,116 <OTHER-SE> (3,172) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 176,461 <SALES> 167,487 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 170,527 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 141,869 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 12,812 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,121 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,725 <INCOME-TAX> 3,650 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,075 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,075 <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.17) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.16) <FN> Contain reclassifications have been made to the 1997 financial statements to conform to the 1998 presentation. </FN>