© Clinton County News

Bargain hunters will once again fill U.S. 127 next week with the arrival of the late summer area favorite event - the World’s Longest Yard Sale.

In Thursday, July 31, 2008 issue.

By Allison Cross, Clinton County News Intern
and Brett Gibson, Clinton County News Staff

The summer months are almost over and with the new school year just around the corner, Clinton Countians will join bargain hunters from across the nation in the activity of simply driving up and down U.S. 127 for what is billed as the “World’s Longest Outdoor Yard Sale.”

Traffic in Clinton County is usually at a snail’s pace throughtout the entire U.S. 127 Sale weekend, but this year the hazards along portions of the local route, especially that near three of the four Clinton County school facilities.

Thursday, August 7, is the official first day of school for students, as well as the kickoff to the 127 Corridor Sale.

The sale will continue through the following Sunday, August 10. Traffic will be booming on the first two days of the yard sale with school busses and parents trying to drop their kids off at school as well as the yard sale enthusiasts in the area who will be out looking for the early deal.

Even though gas prices have soared, Mountain View Park Director Bobby Reneau believes it won’t be a factor as far as the combined crowd of vendors and buyers are concerned.

“I’ve had people call me and complain about the gas prices, but they come back year after year,” Reneau said.

In addition to giving local buyers a chance to snap up some really nice “junk” finds along the route, it is also an opportunity for a host of local vendors to put some extra cash in their own pockets as well.

Next weekend will provide many opportunities for local businesses and many Clintonians to make a little extra money.

The Clinton County Chamber of Commerce has been busy promoting this yard sale along with the Rollercoaster Yard Sale in October.

Jim Soma, Chamber of Commerce President, commented on the yard sale. “We want it to go well for the community” Jim Soma.

The yard sale brings consumers from all parts of the state as well as other areas. According to the official website, the yard sale brings in hundreds of thousands of people across the five states of Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan.

The local economy will get a boost from the yard sale, with people visiting the different booths and vendors, it brings consumers into local businesses.

“A few dislike the snarled traffic associated with the sale, but all must admit, the sale is good for the economy along the corridor route,” according to a press release from the Fentress County Chamber of Commerce. “Locals sell their crafts, accommodations are filled, restaurants are crowded and those renting vendor spaces also add to the local economy.” Fentress County has served as the headquarters of the yard sale since 1995.

While consumers are scanning the booths at the park and traveling the route looking for hot spots, they stop at local restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and so forth along the way. The rapidly declining economy is taking a short break and allowing the local businesses to benefit from the 127 Corridor Sale.

According to the website, the concept of the world’s longest yard sale ... is to pull people off the interstates and back into the heartland and rural-scenic America.

Albany and Clinton County has been one of the 127 Sale “hot spots” since the event first began.

The sale starts in Covington, Kentucky and ends in Gadston, Alabama for a total of 450 miles of bargains and deals and items ranging from big items like vehicles to smaller items like shot glasses and Hot Wheels.

Many of the items can be sold in grocery stores, or home builders locations, while many items like antique glassware, antique furniture and even old gas pumps are just some of the items buyers won’t find in a regular place of business.

Of the millions and millions of items sold at the 127 Corridor Sale, Reneau believes many people will be looking for items they will have to buy anyway. He said buyers will purchase things people need for everyday living because of how stressed the economy is right now with gas prices and other items becoming more expensive.

The 127 Yard Sale is a major fund-raiser for the Mountain View Recreational Park and every year Mountain View Park plays host to many different vendors who sell many different things. This year Reneau said he has sold close to what he sold at last year’s event at 100 spots for the 127 Yard Sale.

“Usually I have a little break between the close of Little League and the start of the 127 Sale, but this year with hosting the girls’ softball district tournament, I haven’t had much time to do anything. I didn’t even get a chance to send out letters this year,” Reneau said. “I have contacted almost everybody who usually comes and sets up and they all say they are coming. I think everybody in the nation has my cell phone number and they have been calling me to reserve a spot. I think we will have about what we normally have.”

Reneau also discussed other actives that were currently going on at the park, including mixed league softball, men’s league softball and a church league will soon begin.

“We have over 90 softball games this season and we can’t afford to cancel any of them,” Reneau said.

During the week of the 127 Yard Sale, normal everyday users of the park will not be hindered in any way. Reneau said all events scheduled during this week at the park will continue as planned.