Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

Beaumont is throwing itself an awards show aaaand you're invited. Next Tuesday, the City's annual State of the City address goes full Academy Awards, honoring the departments and people keeping things running behind the scenes. Meanwhile, SETX football royalty got crowned: two Willie Ray Smith Award winners this season, one of them making history for his school. This weekend, Mural Fest takes over Riverfront Park and Neches River Adventures kicks off its tour season and the State Fair is loading up just one week out. Plus, we feature the only waterfront restaurant between Crystal Beach and Lake Charles.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.

Let's get into it. 👇

Beaumont's State of the City Is Getting a Red Carpet This Year

The City of Beaumont's 2026 State of the City address — this year themed "The Beaumont Awards" is happening this Tuesday, March 24, at 11 a.m. at the historic Jefferson Theatre. Instead of a traditional report-style address, city leadership is staging it Academy Awards-style: recognizing departments and employees who've made an impact over the past year, followed by a live Q&A with the public. It's free, open to everyone, and one of the few times Beaumont residents can ask city leaders questions directly — face to face, in one room.

💡 The bottom line: If you've ever had a question about what city hall is actually doing with your tax dollars, Tuesday morning at the Jefferson Theatre is your best shot at getting an answer in person.

🏆 Beaumont's Demi Engman Named One of America's 250 Public Service Champions — Demi Engman, Director of Planning & Community Development for the City of Beaumont, was selected as one of America's 250 Public Service Champions by the National Academy of Public Administration — honoring standout public servants as the country heads toward its 250th birthday. She'll be recognized May 12 in Philadelphia. It's a national spotlight on someone working locally on Beaumont's growth and development every day. Read more →

🏈 Two Willie Ray Smith Award Winners This Season — And One Made History — Amante Martin (Port Arthur Memorial, QB) took the offensive award after leading all SETX players with 52 touchdowns this season. Kaleb Menard (Orangefield, LB) claimed the defensive honor with 171 tackles and 10 sacks — and became the first Bobcat ever to win the award. The Willie Ray Smith Award is Southeast Texas's top honor in high school football, and this season gave it to two players worth remembering. Read more →

🤠 South Texas State Fair Opens March 26 at Ford Park — 11 Days of It — The YMBL South Texas State Fair kicks off next Thursday, March 26, and runs through April 5 at Ford Park (5115 IH-10 South, Beaumont). PRCA rodeo, livestock show, carnival midway, fried food you'll regret and love…it's all there. The bull riding Chute-Out is April 3–4 inside Doggett Ford Arena. Start planning your trip now. Read more →

🎨 Beaumont Mural Fest Returns This Weekend at Riverfront Park — The 4th Annual Beaumont Mural Festival is Saturday March 21 (11 a.m.–6 p.m.) and Sunday March 22 (11 a.m.–5 p.m.) at Riverfront Park, 805 Main St. Artists from across the region paint live murals while you watch — music, food, and family activities included. Free admission. Read more →

🤝 Golden Pass LNG Pledges $100K to United Way in Its 100th Year — Golden Pass LNG made a $100,000 gift to United Way Mid & South Jefferson County for 2026 — timed to mark the nonprofit's centennial. United Way funds health, education, and financial stability programs across Jefferson County. A major private investment into the region's safety net, right on its 100th birthday. Read more →

📰 Port Arthur News Turns 129 And Is Moving to a New Home — March 18, marks 129 consecutive years of the Port Arthur News — not a single issue missed since March 18, 1897, when the Stump family printed the first weekly edition aboard a train. The paper is also headed to a new office at Aref Plaza, 3300 Jimmy Johnson Blvd., in early April. One of Southeast Texas's oldest institutions, still printing. Read more →

💼 Two Hiring Events This Thursday — CHRISTUS Health + Orange County Job Fair — Two opportunities in one day: CHRISTUS Health is hosting an in-person hiring event Thursday March 19 (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) at Buckskin Brewing, 6280 Phelan Blvd., Beaumont — about 30 positions including RNs, radiology techs, surgical techs, respiratory therapists, and more. Same day, the Orange County Spring Job Fair runs 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Orange Workforce Center, 2266 MacArthur Dr., Orange. Text SETWORKS JOBS to (409) 248-1399 for info. Read more →

📬 Which story caught your eye?

Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.

THIS WEEK

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

THIS WEEKEND

COMING UP

Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉

There is exactly one waterfront restaurant between Crystal Beach and Lake Charles, and it's been sitting on the Neches River in Port Neches since 2025. The Wheelhouse opened as a deliberate alternative to chain dining with real food, real water views, and a concept built around the river itself. Burgers, steaks, seafood, and po'boys with the Neches as your backdrop, active shipping traffic and all. The signature move: every time a ship passes, a bell rings and Ship Shots go half-price. The outdoor setup is family-friendly during the day and settles into something quieter by evening. Kids' meals come on frisbees — yes, actual frisbees so the kids don't have to sit still after eating. It's a locals' spot that deserves more attention.

📍 720 Lee Ave., Port Neches, TX 77651 | ⏰ Mon–Thu 11AM–9:30PM | Fri 11AM–10:30PM | Sat 10AM–10:30PM | Sun 10AM–9:30PM

📞 (409) 853-1249 | 🌐 nechesriverwheelhouse.com

🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.

Richmond Holly and Bobby Meche started Scoop Dooty in 2024 with a simple premise: pet owners love their dogs, but nobody loves cleaning up after them. Their Beaumont-based pet waste removal service handles the job for residential clients and commercial properties alike — HOAs, apartment complexes, anywhere that needs regular upkeep. Plans start at $55 per month with no contracts, so you're not locked in if your situation changes. They serve Beaumont and surrounding areas, and what started as a practical solution has grown into a steady local business built entirely on referrals and repeat clients. Give 'em a call if your yard's overdue.

📞 (409) 288-1350 | 📧 [email protected] | 🌐 scoopdooty.com

The Why Gym is a 25,000-square-foot warehouse-style fitness facility on West Ridge Lane in Beaumont and if you've been in and out of chain gyms your whole life, it's a different experience. Open 24/7, they've got training equipment across multiple disciplines, an indoor turf area, a basketball court, and a sauna. The differentiator isn't the square footage, though — it's the culture. The gym's stated mission is building a community of "like-minded individuals chasing after their WHY," and that shows in how they run the place: teacher appreciation programs, guest pass promotions, member transformation features on social. It's a lifestyle gym in the real sense of the phrase, not just a marketing one. Memberships are flexible with no rigid pricing structure — worth a call if you've been looking for a reason to get back in the building.

📍 4335 W Ridge Lane, Beaumont, TX 77706

⏰ Open 24/7

📞 (409) 347-8610 | 🌐 thewhygym.com

And speaking of building something — Tailored Financial Solutions helps local business owners like The Why Gym's team keep their books clean, their numbers honest, and their focus on growth. If your Q1 finances need attention, Lance's team is the call.

This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].

This Saturday, March 21, Neches River Adventures kicks off its 2026 public tour season at Collier's Ferry Park (5390 Pine St., Beaumont) at 10 a.m. — and if you've never been on one of these tours, this is the year to go. The guided trips take you along the Neches River and deep into Ten Mile Bayou, a cypress-tupelo swamp tucked inside the Big Thicket National Preserve. You're on a 45-foot covered vessel with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain who actually knows these waterways — this isn't a party boat, it's a legit nature experience in one of the most ecologically unique spots in North America. Mid-March is one of the best times to go: the swamp is waking up, the weather's not punishing yet, and wildlife is out. Reservations are required and spots fill up.

📞 (409) 651-5326 | 🌐 nechesriveradventures.org

🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.

The What's Up SETX Team is on the hunt for amateur photographers based in the Golden Triangle to partner with us for our social media and newsletter so we can reach and help more people stay in the know.

If you're already out there capturing community moments, local businesses, or everyday life around here, we'd love to start a conversation about working together.

Or if someone came to mind while you were reading this, send it their way.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] with your portfolio or Instagram handle.

CHRISTUS Health is hiring for about 30 positions and hosting a walk-in event this Thursday, March 19, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at Buckskin Brewing, 6280 Phelan Blvd., Beaumont. Roles include RNs, radiology techs, surgical techs, respiratory therapists, lab scientists, and occupational therapists. Come ready to interview.

Deadline: March 19, 2026 | Buckskin Brewing, 6280 Phelan Blvd., Beaumont

Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.

Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

📋 Workforce Solutions SETX Job Fairs

One last job fair coming up this month connecting SETX workers with local employers. Free to attend! Just bring your resume and your questions.

Visit: setworks.org

💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.

If you could ask city leadership one question at the live Q&A, what would it be?

See you next week neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team