NATCHEZ &045;&045; Janice Sago delivers history with a smile at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

&uot;It’s just a great atmosphere, and I enjoy meeting people from all over,&uot; said Sago, a receptionist at the Grand Village for the past seven years.

Sago, who started on a part-time basis, now works a full 40-hour shift, including three weekends each month.

A married mother of two girls ages 12 and 13, she juggles her busy work schedule with home life.

&uot;You get used to it. And if I need off for something, they’ll always work something out with me,&uot; she said.

Sago also doubles as a receptionist at Historic Jefferson College when the staff there is shorthanded. She said her daughters developed an early interest in history as a result of her work.

&uot;I used to bring them to work with me when they were smaller, but they’ve gotten a little tired of it now that they’re older,&uot; she said.

Sago and Grand Village sales shop manager Deborah Thomas have planned two trips to the Choctaw reservation in Philadelphia next month to purchase more items for the visitor’s center.

&uot;We’ve been waiting for the new fiscal year to start in July, so we can buy more merchandise,&uot; she said.

Sago, who sells a variety of Native American jewelry and baskets in the center, recalled one customer who bought a set of highly-valued Chitamacha Indian baskets.

&uot;She knew what she was looking at when she saw them. She bought all three baskets for $700,&uot; Sago said.

The visitor’s center in the Grand Village is open seven days from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.