On your mark … get set … SHOP! Today marks what many dub “Black Friday,” the day many retailers suggest will make their businesses profitable on the year.

The day has become synonymous with heavily discounted sales prices and once-a-year deals.

Hopefully, cool heads will prevail and no one will get hurt in the national shopping frenzy.

While you head out to shop, please remember the benefits of shopping locally when and where possible.

Yes, we understand that some things cannot be found locally. That’s OK.

We also understand that in some cases shopping elsewhere — either online or out of town — may allow you to save a few dollars.

But online retailers rarely invest in the local youth baseball team as sponsors or the local United Way fundraisers.

They don’t support the local chambers of commerce or Natchez Inc.

But many, many local merchants do all of that and more. That’s why it’s important that we recognize their value to our community’s quality of life and its economy.

It’s also why shopping locally is so critically important to our community.

You have a choice to make this year as you make holiday shopping decisions, and we hope you choose to invest locally. It’s perhaps the single best Christmas present you can give to the community.