Since the year 2000, county salaries have doubled. Total wages are up 100 percent in 13 years, according to a November 2013 salary survey.

Supervisors commissioned an update to a 2000 study by the Stennis Institute last June to help the Board and administrators develop the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. But the report, dated November 26, 2013, was delivered too late to use as department budgets were set late last summer and into early fall.

Now county administrator Michael Thompson and interim comptroller Alex Wiley are studying the report to help them get a handle on finances.

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Nearly seven years ago when two young friends got together to throw a party, they never imagined that bash would be the launch of a business.  Larry Franklin and Quentin Harris, both 2002 Rosa Fort High School graduates, were college students looking for fun in 2007 when they pooled money from their personal funds and incidentally hosted the first event organized by S&G/Fly Boy Entertainment.

“We were roommates at the time,” Harris said.  “We actually thought about just having a little party.”

That little party turned into a big eye opener for the two and eventually steered them in the path of entrepreneurship.  It steered them for several reasons, including the fact that they didn’t profit a dime that night, they said.

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‘Biggest Loser’ sought

The Town of Tunica kicks off a 20-week “Tunica’s Biggest Loser” contest next week, with bragging rights and a cash award in the balance.

Mayor Chuck Cariker announced the initiative at last week’s town Board meeting. Tunica Main Street is helping to promote the event, and Cariker said he believed a sponsor would be on board by the kick-off.

“Other communities have done this, and it’s very popular,” Cariker said. “It’s part of a push in Mississippi for a more healthy lifestyle for all our citizens.”

The contest begins Tuesday, February 18, and ends July 4th with an announcement of the winner at the town’s Independence Day Parade and Picnic. Participant pay a $20 fee to enter, which becomes part of the winner’s “pot.”

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Every week hundreds of people visit the Tunica Museum.  Through the years we have recorded visitors from every state in the union and many foreign countries.  Even before the bright lights of the casinos drew people here, there were notable people who for one reason or another passed through Tunica County.

The first “tourist” to spend time here was undoubtedly Hernando DeSoto. Certainly there was no tourism infrastructure in 1541, but our history books would tell us that DeSoto was impressed enough with this area that he spent considerable time here before he wore out his welcome.

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