CHRISTMAS TREE — Jullie Christian, daughter of Stephanie and David Christian of Picayune, picks out her Christmas tree on Saturday at the Miller Farm’s lot next to Rite-Aid on Memorial Boulevard. Residents began purchasing and putting up their Christmas trees this weekend as the holiday shopping season got underway. Merchants were mixed in reports on shopping responses, but state sales tax rebates have shown that retail sales are down here. However, local merchants and government officials were hoping the Christmas sales will even things out.