100-MILE YARD SALE: EVENT STARTS TODAY ALONG HIGHWAY 25

Bargains by the mile will be available during the region's initial 100-Mile Yard Sale.

The event starts today, and traffic is expected to increase through Memorial Day as motorists look for bargains along the 100-mile stretch of Highway 25 from Jackson to Kennett.

"Everything is ready," said Ellen Lowe of near Bloomfield, an organizer of the event. "Although there will be a lot of people looking, the biggest throngs are expected Friday and Saturday."

The event runs through Monday.

"We've talked to a number of people the past couple of days," said Lowe, who will host a 20-family yard sale at her home just north of Bloomfield alongside Highway 25. "A number of people have indicated they are planning a jaunt along Route 25.

"There could be well over 100 yard sales along the route," said Lowe, who contacted mayors in all of the towns and villages along the highway and have their OKs on the event.

Cities and communities along Highway 25 include Jackson, Gordonville, Advance, Delta, Dexter, Bernie, Bloomfield, Clarkton, Malden and Kennett.

People along the highway have spent many hours pricing and preparing items for the yard sale, said Lowe.

The Memorial Day weekend traditionally is one of the busiest on America's highways.

Yard sale mania has long been in existence in Southeast Missouri and the nation. It is a way to get rid of the junk and make money. And, it is an opportunity to find that certain item at a bargain.

Yards sales are becoming bigger and bigger.

Plans for yard sale have created far-reaching interest, said Lowe.

A couple of bus tours have arranged schedules to take passengers along Highway 25. Many dealers have indicated they will arrange time for a day or two along the highway.

"Yard-sale enthusiasts can make a long weekend of yard-sailing," said Lowe. "Bargain hunters will be in their element."

"Many stores in the towns along the route will have weekend sidewalk sales," Lowe said.

Lowe, who is retired and an antique and memorabilia collector, got the idea for the yard sale from her own yard-sale visits in Kentucky and Tennessee, which feature an annual 100-mile-plus yard sale that stretches from Wickliffe, Ky., along Highway 51 to Memphis, Tenn.

A small community near Nashville, Watertown, Tenn., has a twice-a-year, one-mile yard sale through town. The spring event was held last month, with the fall event set for Oct. 9.

The Super Swing Yard Sale, which features yard sales and sidewalk sales, is a 50-mile event along U.S. 287 in north Texas.

Lowe is already talking about next year's Highway 25 event.

"Some chambers of commerce along the route are interested in sponsoring the event for the year 2000," said Lowe.