Thursday, August 19, 1999
'Longest garage sale' starts today
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Some die-hard treasure hunters along the 450-mile route known as “the World's Longest Garage Sale” will do anything for a bargain — including starting a day early and skipping children's birthdays.
Cathy Garrett of New Albany, Miss., missed her 13-year-old twin sons' birthday this week, just so she and a friend could shop their way from Covington, Ky., to Gadsden, Ala.
Mrs. Garrett and her friend, Minerva Moore, spent most of Wednesday — the day before official opening day — stuffing their rented U-Haul trailer with glassware, baby clothes, and other items bought from Boone County vendors. Both said they've learned to pass up “the professional yard salers” in favor of bargain-priced stands in yards.
“Last year, we started in Alabama and worked our way up into Tennessee,” said Mrs. Garrett, who sells antiques in Mississippi. “This year, we thought we'd start at the northern end.”
While the 13th annual U.S. 127 Yard Sale officially opens today, many of the thousands of vendors along the route started setting their goods out Wednesday. The sale runs through Sunday along Dixie Highway in Northern Kentucky, but ends Saturday in some counties.
“People even plan vacations around this,” said Donna Kremer, administrative coordinator of the MainStrasse Village Association. “They'll call in January and say, "Now, what weekend is that sale?'”
Vendors who want to sell their wares in Covington can set up stands on the Sixth Street island in Covington. The MainStrasse Village Association holds the permits for the sale, so no fees are required, Ms. Kremer said. Customers can park free in the Fifth Street lot between Philadelphia and Main Streets.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet also is designating parking areas along the sale route to prevent bargain hunters from stopping on the shoulder of the road and causing accidents. Information is available on the Transportation Cabinet's Web site at www.kytc.state.ky.us
The sale got its start in the town of Jamestown, Tenn., population 2,000, as a way to boost tourism and economic development in out-of-the-way rural towns.
“The former judge-executive saw this as a way to have a positive economic impact on the area, and get a little name recognition for Jamestown,” said Scott Sandman, executive director of the Fentress County Chamber of Commerce in Tennessee.
When Mr. Sandman took his current job two years ago, he said his first reaction to the yard sales was disbelief.
That changed after he witnessed one.
“During the sale, you can't find a hotel along 127 that's got a vacancy, and all the restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations are busy,” Mr. Sandman said. “Our local school system even closes down (today) and Friday because of the sale.”
County to pay for new radio system
This mom beat the odds - and City Hall
70 years, 1 question: What makes us tick?
Former principal under suspicion
No challengers for county judgeships
Bodies from river crash found
Father asks help in finding daughter
Shooting victims ask for prayers
Getting off welfare gets easier
'Longest garage sale' starts today
Cop accused of tampering with evidence quits
Gun-toting student to be sentenced
Schools in search of subs
Timing tangles city tax vote
Training center tops N. Ky. wish list
Woman's killing ends a life adrift
County plan charts development
Dayton decision to rezone street a real clunker
How to help earthquake victims
Politically incorrect? Stand in line
State fair beckons exhibitors
Attorney starts 2002 re-election bid
GET TO IT
Improved Pap test resisted by insurers
Butler Co. voters to decide 9 non-school levies
Candidate Bush on inner-city tour today
Country Day makes 1-year move
Drug use starting to fall among teens
Face on video, appearance in court lead to arrest
Federal judge lets Klan march in Cleveland
Levies approved for ballot
Most of suit vs. Hamilton thrown out
New levy for police on ballot
Ohio looks at violence in schools
Pioneer Village seeks helping hand
Schools told math, science need work
Silverton to welcome new official
Stadium finds new life as a lake reef
TRISTATE DIGEST
