61-mile yard sale this weekend

MoDOT urges caution this Labor Day Weekend as motorists and pedestrians will be out for the 61-Mile Yard Sale from Bloomsdale, Missouri, to Jackson.

According to a news release Thursday, MoDOT encourages all to "remember the greatest savings of the event could be a life."

MoDOT traffic engineer Craig Compas said this weekend is a time of fun that people look forward to each year. But he also wants people to remember that there's more traffic and more congestion along Route 61 this weekend that any other weekend.

"And drivers need to keep that in mind," Compas said in the release.

Judith Golightly owns Judith's Antiques & Gung Ho Militaria in Jackson and will set up at 133 County Road 533, off Route 61 in Jackson -- along with other sellers -- for the sale this weekend.

She said each year she has seen more people take part in the 61-mile sale and has been part of it since the beginning.

Golightly said she opened Tuesday.

Through the years, Golightly said she has seen new faces and returning visitors. People travel from all over, she said, including repeat dealers from Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Message boards will be in place along the route to alert drivers of the unusual traffic patterns and promote safe driving.

"We really want drivers to be alert -- to be aware of their surroundings, to be aware of sudden stops and to look for pedestrian traffic," Compas said. "It's a big event locally, and we want everyone to enjoy themselves and be as safe as possible."

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632