Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and members of the Natchez Aldermen met to discuss the reopening of a rum distillery by Doug Charbonneau at King’s Tavern. The Natchez Planning Commission approved last week the distillery being located on the corner of Jefferson and Rankin Streets.
Charbonneau closed the distillery in 2020. He has since decided to reopen it. The report says his wife, Regina, operates the adjacent restaurant in the historic King’s Tavern building, which had been an eatery for many years and closed along with the distillery.
Health leaders in Louisiana are warning about a synthetic opioid reported to have been found in multiple parishes. The Louisiana Poison Center’s executive director, Mark Ryan, said the drug is called cyclophane. Ryan estimated it is about 10 times more potent than fentanyl. He said that because of its potency, a single pill could be lethal and that multiple doses of naloxone—commonly used to counter fentanyl overdoses—may be required to have the same effect. Ryan said cyclophane has been found recently in parishes across north, central and southeast Louisiana.
In Mississippi, Tourism Economics reported that tourism in the state reached a record 45.5 million visitors last year. The report estimated record total economic impact at $18.9 billion and said visitor spending totaled a record $12.4 billion. Tourism activity reportedly supported a record 138,000 jobs and generated $4.8 billion in personal income for Mississippi workers. The report also listed $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue from visitor activity.
A Mississippi lawmaker said he is taking steps to create a specialty license plate honoring Dolly Parton and supporting her early childhood literacy cause. The report said September 25 is being used to announce the filing of a bill by state representative Michael Bayham. According to the report, $25 would go to the Imagination Library. The announcement is planned for later in New Orleans with members of the crew of Dolly.
At Natchez-Vidalia, the Mississippi River is reported to be at 16.56 feet and rising.
