Hello Friends!

Seems like forever since I wrote the last newsletter - but - it was only 2 months ago! So much has happened!

First of all - babies! I love babies!

Irv and Beth Cass welcomed Preston Irven Cass on October 13th. He weighed 7# 2 oz and was 21" long. Check out his picture - Beth thinks he looks just like Irv. We hear our intrepid Irv has already done diaper duty! Brave Irvis!

Travis and Lynn Morris had their first grandchild on October 12th! Jimmi Logan Morris weighed 6# 14 oz and was 20" long. Congratulations to the new grandparents! It's wonderful!

Speaking of grandparents (notice how I got that in?), my 4th grandbaby is here too! Matthew Scott Fox was born with gobs of long black hair - maybe he's gonna be an ETA?

September started off with a bang. Ronny's LaCrosse Elvis® Explosion was the best ever! 35 contestants entertained more than 4000 fans over the weekend! The Change of Habit Showband was hot as can be! The Children's Miracle Network was the big winner with much money being raised for this great cause! The Day's Inn provides a wonderful spot for the after-show jam session and everyone had a great time! Results of the competition were:

1st - Irv Cass
2nd - Robert Washington
3rd - Kavan
4th - Gino Monopoli

Spirit of Elvis® "Larry Hass" Award - Allan Roebuck

Ronny hosted his first Junior Division and the crowd enjoyed Jimmy Holmes, Nick Gutierrez and Demi Downing. The judges thought all 3 were wonderful - so - they all got beautiful trophies!

Next, we boarded our flight to Dewey Beach, Delaware. The Rusty Rudder is an open-air restaurant with 2 stages and is packed to the max for Elvistival! They are wonderful hosts, providing all the contestants with lodging and meals at their fabulous facility. 20 ETA's competed in Professional and Non-Professional Divisions for 2 days.
Results were:

Professional

1st - Justin Edwards
2nd - Steve Mitchell
3rd - Jim Westover
4th - Bennie Wheels
5th - Eddie Steen

Non-Professional

1st - Jim Parsley
2nd - Alvin Smith
3rd - Paul Daniels
4th - Elvis E
5th - Tim Collins

Peoples Choice - Justin Edwards

The weather was just glorious and we understand some of the guys even went swimming! In the ocean! With the BIG waves!

The beginning of October, we made the gorgeous drive to Branson, MO for the Branson II Elvis® Explosion. Cody Slaughter, last Spring's winner, was the special guest along with Wayne Carman, Elvis'® martial arts instructor. The Lodge of the Ozarks treated us well and the ETA's were in and out all day checking out the many shows. For the first time, we leaded loaded all the contestants' songs into a computer and eliminated skips and false starts. It was great! Results were:

1st - Rob Langford
2nd - Justin Edwards
3rd - Todd Martin

After only 3 days home, we took off for Portage, IN, and the Elvis® FANtasy Fest.

Jerry Schilling was there to discuss his new book, "Me and a Guy Named Elvis." He was most interesting and very pleasant to everyone. Sandi Pichon was charming with lots of great stories about her time with Elvis®. Of course, Patti Parry, added fun and spice to the weekend.
Kathy Hood did a wonderful job with the contest which was a hard-fought competition. Friday night, the place was abuzz with the news of the new Cass baby.

Saturday night, Dwight Icenhower, Robert Washington, Quentin Flagg and Matt King presented a concert celebrating Elvis® - the Heartbreaker Concert. It was wonderful and the largest crowd ever yelled their approval! The Exspence Account rocked!

Sunday's finale starring the Special Olympian athletes was, as usual, beautiful and touching. There wasn't a dry eye in the house!

Competition results were:

1st - Leo Days
2nd - Jimmy King Kai
3rd - Kavan

Peoples Choice - Ed "Monkey Man' Parzygnat

The emotions ran high when both Leo and Kavan donated their winnings back to the Special Olympics.

I have it on very good authority that the jam sessions were still going on when people were leaving Monday morning. Wow!

Whew! Just writing about all this makes me tired all over again!

We have a short rest now before the Christmas shows begin!

We kick off the season with "Christmas with the King" at the fabulous Sabre Room in Hickory Hills, IL. The date is Saturday, November 25 - the weekend following Thanksgiving. This year, the show stars Matt King, Todd Martin, Johnny Loos, Ronny Craig, Jerome Marion, and Dwight Icenhower. The Change of Habit will complete the evening. As usual, there will be a few surprises along the way.

The following weekend, we present out first annual Christmas weekend at the Isle of Capri in Marquette, Iowa. There will be six shows - all different - on Friday and Saturday nights, December 1st & 2nd. Stars of this show will be Irv Cass, Todd Martin and Justin Edwards backed up by Anthony and the Guitar Street Orchestra. Ronny Craig will MC and look pretty!

The next week, on Sunday, December 10th, there will be another Christmas concert in Omaha, NE starring Paul Halverstadt, Irv Cass, Dwight Icenhower and Matt King. This concert will benefit the Toys for Tots.

Check Upcoming Events for details!

I wish everyone a wonderful Holiday Season - lots of love and happiness!

Nance