Midway to Mardi Gras

Accordint to Curtis Breaux & The Cadillacs, it’s midway to Mardi Gras and the band hopes krewe captains will rally their members for a party, complete with second lines. The fun will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Pine Tree Lodge, LaBelle Road.

Call 796-1600 for details.

“We’re expecting standing room only,” Breaux said.

A novel approach

Kent Conwell, a local author and Port Arthur News columnist, is willing to share his writing ways.

Conwell, author of 31 westerns and mysteries, will conduct a ‘Writing the Novel’ class through Lamar University Continuing Education. Class will be Thursdays for six weeks, beginning Sept. 14.

Conwell says that by the end of the class, the student will have developed the premise of a novel, written the beginning and the end, and will have the knowledge and techniques to fill in the middle.

 Class will be from 6 to 8 p.m. in room 104 of the Montagne Center.

Tuition is $79. Register at 880-8209.

Travelin’ news

The Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau reports success of a promotion called Summer Blast of Family Fun. The Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza reports 260 room nights with a monetary value of over $26,000. Texas Energy Museum, Colorado Canyon and Taste of Orleans operators say they have also seen increased activity. Special rates continue through Sept. 4.