Here’s what’s up in SETX,
Port Arthur's decade-long wait for flood relief is officially over!
Shovels are in the ground on the west side. ExxonMobil is putting $250,000 back into Beaumont neighborhoods through Legacy Community Health, Lamar softball just wrapped up one of the most memorable seasons in program history, and if you cross East Roundbunch bridge this week, there's a closure starting today you need to know about. Plus, Buckstin Brewing on Phelan has 22 taps and a couple of national awards worth raising a glass to.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
Port Arthur's West Side Finally Gets Its Flood Fix 🌊
For ten years, residents in a flood-prone Port Arthur neighborhood watched promises pile up while the water kept rising. That wait is over. Construction has officially begun on the West 19th Street Drainage Improvement Project — a $1.1M gravity-flow system that moves stormwater naturally downhill from 17th Street to Terminal Road, no pumps required, no power-outage risk. SETEX Construction Corp. of Port Arthur won the contract and is targeting a November 2026 completion.
This neighborhood knows what Harvey looked like up close — chest-deep water in the streets, helicopter rescues, neighbors sheltering in Councilmember Donald Frank's church because it was the only dry building on the block. Frank, who had been advocating for this project for years, said he was moved to finally see it happening. Councilmember Willie Lewis put the delay plainly: "So many cities are working on infrastructure projects right now" — but the money was there, and now so is the crew.
💡 The bottom line: A decade is a long time to wait for dry streets — but this west side neighborhood is finally getting the infrastructure it's needed since long before Harvey made everyone pay attention.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🔧 Beaumont's 74-Year-Old Wastewater Plant Is Getting a Long-Overdue Game Plan — City Council received its first comprehensive Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan since 2016 on May 5. The plant has been running for 74 years, and the new plan targets regulatory compliance, ammonia levels, and aging infrastructure replacement — with roughly $20M in upgrades on the horizon. It's part of Beaumont's $387M infrastructure investment plan running through 2030.
💊 ExxonMobil Puts $250K Into Beaumont Neighborhood Health — ExxonMobil donated $250,000 to Legacy Community Health to expand access to care across Beaumont neighborhoods through its Be Well Beaumont initiative. Funds support school-based programs, health screenings, hygiene support, literacy resources, and pharmacy services. Big-company dollars landing at street level. Read more →
🌉 East Roundbunch Bridge Closes Today Through Friday — Find Alternate Routes — The East Roundbunch Swing Bridge in Orange County closes today through May 15, 8 AM to 4 PM daily, for routine maintenance and new camera installations. It reopens each day after 4 PM. If this is on your route, plan ahead now.
🏛️ Port Arthur Has 60–70 City Jobs Sitting Empty — Some for Years — Port Arthur officials are weighing a hiring overhaul after 60 to 70 city positions have remained vacant — some unfilled for as long as five years. Leaders have openly said "always over 60 and that is unacceptable." Quality-of-life services are feeling it, and City Council is now looking at procedural reforms to close the gap.
🚦 Beaumont Is Fighting Rising Crashes With Smarter Traffic Lights — Crashes near I-10 construction corridors are up roughly 40% as diverted traffic hammers surface streets. Beaumont's answer: adaptive traffic signals that read real-time conditions and adjust timing on the fly. The system is already live on College Street from Hospital Drive to Major Drive, with MLK Blvd next. The city is applying for TxDOT and FHWA grants to expand it citywide. Read more →
🥎 Lamar Softball's Historic Season Ends at Southland Championship Series — The Cardinals earned their way to the Southland title series for only the second time in program history — going 3–0 in the tournament by sweeping top-seed Southeastern Louisiana — before falling to McNeese in three games. Isabella Flores became the first Cardinal to record 50 RBIs in a single season, and Reagan Smith finished tied for third-most wins in program history (15). They left ranked in two national mid-major polls. One to remember. Read more →
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Reroute around East Roundbunch — The swing bridge in Orange County closes 8 AM–4 PM today through Friday, May 15. If it's on your commute or daily route, plan your alternate now.
✅ Catch Disney's Aladdin before May 23 — SE Texas Stages is running a bilingual (English/Spanish) production at 4155 Laurel Ave, Beaumont. Tickets at setxs.thundertix.com or call (409) 833-4664.
✅ Hit SE Texas FanFest this weekend — The 2nd Annual pop culture con at Central Mall in Port Arthur runs through Sunday, May 17. Free admission. Costume contest, gaming, trading cards, and the SE Texas Ghostbusters.
✅ Mark May 23 for Community Day in Port Arthur — Free family event at Bob Bowers Civic Center. Fire trucks, police vehicles, Public Works demos, 10 AM–2 PM. Perfect for kids.
✅ Running a small business or thinking about starting one? — Tailored Financial Solutions offers bookkeeping, CFO-level guidance, and financial clarity for local entrepreneurs. tailoredfinsolutions.com 💰
📅 COMMUNITY EVENTS
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
THIS WEEK
May 13: Read to Me: Grownup Storytime | Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas Dr, Beaumont. 9:30–10:30 AM, free — storytime reimagined for adults.
May 14: Dungeons & Dragons | Orange Public Library, Orange. Open community tabletop session, 4–6:30 PM. Free.
May 15: Southeast Texas FanFest kicks off | Central Mall, FM 365, Port Arthur. Fri–Sun pop culture celebration for comics, gaming, and fandom, presented by The Cosmic Outpost. Free to explore.
May 15: SE Texas Stand Down — Free Veteran Services | Orange, TX. 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. Free resources and assistance for veterans, homeless veterans, and military families. Hosted by SETX Veterans 4 Veterans.
Ongoing through May 23: Disney's Aladdin | SE Texas Stages, 4155 Laurel Ave, Beaumont. Bilingual (English/Spanish) musical production. Tickets at setxs.thundertix.com or (409) 833-4664.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
May 15 - Dreamgirls @ 7 pm
May 22 - Pirates of the Caribbean @ 7 pm
THIS WEEKEND
May 16: Beaumont Farmers Market | 6525 College St (Beaumont Athletic Complex). Every Saturday 8:00–11:00 AM year-round. Local produce, vendors, and fresh goods.
May 16: Free Painting Class — Spring Florals | Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas Dr, Beaumont. 3:00–5:00 PM, completely free. Drop-in welcome.
May 16–17: DSRA Boat Races | Riverside Pavilion & City of Orange Boat Ramp, Sabine River, Orange. High-speed powerboat drag racing on the river. FREE admission. Sat: gates 11 AM, races 11 AM–5 PM. Sun: gates noon, races noon–5 PM. Food trucks and kids' activities both days.
May 16–17: Southeast Texas FanFest (continues) | Central Mall, FM 365, Port Arthur. 11:00 AM Sunday start. Cosplay welcome, pop culture vendors and panels all weekend.
May 16–17: 5th Annual COPA Gulf Coast Youth Soccer Tournament | Gulf Coast Soccer Complex, 5601 Twin City Hwy, Port Arthur. Starts 8:00 AM Saturday. Boys and girls competitive/recreational, ages U7–U19.
May 16–17: Perfect Game Baseball — Battle for the Belts | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Weekend youth baseball tournament on Ford Park's championship fields.
COMING UP
May 19: Meet Me at the Pool — Jump into Summer! | Magnolia Park & Alice Keith Park pools, Beaumont. The city's official summer pool season kickoff. Free. All ages.
May 19: Studio D Dance Company Recital — "Bloom" | Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. 6:00 PM — spring dance recital from one of SETX's youth dance companies. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
May 20: Music Bingo Night — Classic Rock Edition | Madison's on Dowlen, Beaumont. 7:00 PM — guess the song, bingo-style. Great for groups.
May 23: May Days Market | 525 S Archie St, Vidor. 10:00 AM. Outdoor market on Archie Street — local vendors, goods, community atmosphere.
May 23: Turnpike Troubadours with Avery Anna & Rattlesnake Milk | Ford Amphitheatre, Beaumont. Evening concert — check fordamphitheater.live for gates and showtime. Tickets at AXS and Songkick.
May 26–29: Youth Summer Sports Camp (Week 1) | 1405 W. Orange Ave, Orange. 9:00 AM–1:00 PM both days. City of Orange summer program for kids.
May 26 to June 13th: Scholastic Book Fair | 220 5th Street Orange, TX 77631. 10:00 AM-7:00 PM. Sponsored by Friends of the Orange Public Library, Inc.
May 28: Ribbon Cutting — ShareCast Studios | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce event welcoming a new local podcast and video production studio.
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. 🎉
🍽️ FOOD CORNER
🍺 Buckstin Brewing Company — Beaumont
Buckstin Brewing Co. - Beaumont - Courtesy of TripAdvisor
Buckstin Brewing — founded by Gabrielle Blanco and Justin Buchanan-Lopez — opened their second location on Phelan Boulevard in April 2024 and brought 22 house-brewed taps with them.
The awards followed: a Texas Craft Brewers Cup gold for their Safety Beer Weizenbock, and a Great American Beer Festival silver in 2025 for the Chugboat Island Belgian Dubbel. It's a full brewpub — craft beer, cocktails, wine, pizza, and American food in a family-friendly setup that works for a Tuesday night just as well as a Saturday hangout. If you haven't been, the tap list alone is worth the trip.
📍 6280 Phelan Blvd, Beaumont, TX 77706
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Paddle Village Creek Before Summer Hits 🚣
Paddle Village Creek (U.S. National Park Service)
May is the sweet spot for paddling in Southeast Texas — warm enough to enjoy, not yet hot enough to regret. Village Creek State Park in Lumberton sits tucked inside a pocket of the Big Thicket that most people drive right past on U.S. 96, and it's worth the stop. The creek winds through cypress trees and sandy banks on calm, Class I water — no white-knuckle rapids, just scenery. More than 1,000 acres, affordable entry, and the east Texas summer hasn't peaked yet.
Bring your own kayak or canoe, pack sunscreen (the water reflects more than you expect in May), and check current access at tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/village-creek before you go.
🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.
💼 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Calabrian facility in Port Neches is mid-transition — the $190M sale to Ecovyst is expected to close by end of June, so workers at that plant should watch for communications from the incoming ownership. Spring turnaround season has also kept contract crews active across Golden Triangle refineries, with some short-term positions still moving. If you're in the industrial trades, keep an eye on local staffing agencies for anything posted in the next 30–60 days as turnaround work wraps up.
🏥 Healthcare Careers — CHRISTUS Southeast Texas | Beaumont
CHRISTUS is actively recruiting clinical and support staff heading into summer — registered nurses, technicians, and patient care roles are in demand.
How to apply: Apply at christushealth.org/careers
💼 General SETX Openings
Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas posts current openings across industries — manufacturing, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
How to apply: Browse the full board at setworks.org or stop by a local office in Beaumont or Port Arthur.
🌿 Tailored Lawn Care
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
💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.
📣 Your Turn
Charlton-Pollard is about to get a community garden on city-owned land. Do you think Beaumont should be doing more of this in underserved neighborhoods — or is there something else the city should prioritize?
See you next week neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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