On your mark … get set … Today is the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season, and we have a feeling many folks were out early this morning, trying to catch as many bargains as possible.

Analysts tell us the holiday shopping season will be better than last year as the national economy seems to be on an uptick.

So today we hope those joining the crush of Christmas shoppers don’t stray far, because shopping at home is a holiday tradition we all need to uphold.

Our economy greatly depends on our commitment to reinvesting our money in our own community.

For example: Forty-two percent of the City of Natchez’s general fund budget come from sales taxes &045; and a large chunk of retail sales tax revenue comes from holiday sales.

That means that the money we spend here simply goes back into helping the community in many ways. Money reinvested into the community not only pays for city services but also helps our neighbors turn the money over in other ways.

So why should we bother paying taxes in another community?

We have a number of unique shops and stores throughout Natchez and the Miss-Lou, as well as larger department and discount stores.

There is little reason to shop elsewhere, and more than enough reasons to stay home.