OFFICIALS AT EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY HAVE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT TODAY AFTER EARNINGS WERE REPORTED UP IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THE KINGSPORT BASED COMPANY POSTED NET EARNINGS OF 133 MILLION DOLLARS COMPARED TO 77 MILLION FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. OPERATING EARNINGS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER TOTALED 168 MILLION COMPARED TO 154 MILLION LAST YEAR AT THIS SAME TIME. CHAIRMAN AND CEO BRIAN FERGUSON SAID THE OVERALL FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE EXCLUDING ITEMS INCREASED BY 24 PERCENT YEAR OVER YEAR. FERGUSON WENT ON TO SAY HE EXPECTS THE COMPANY TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE SOLID RESULTS IN THE FUTURE.