Yard sale paradise in Scott City

Yard-sale lovers and bargain hunters rejoice, Scott City is offering a citywide yard sale Saturday, Sunday and Monday with more than 50 participants.

Hoping to emulate the success of the 100-mile yard sale held Memorial Day weekend from Jackson to Kennett, the Scott City Area Chamber of Commerce decided to hold a citywide yard sale this year and, depending on its success, expand the event next year to include nearby towns like Commerce, Benton and Kelso.

"The purpose is to promote Scott City and to draw people into our town who have never been here. We have a lot to offer for a small town," said chamber secretary/treasurer Chaundra Mason.

Mason attended the 100-mile yard sale this year and noticed how busy the businesses were in the participating towns. "A town would be silly not to have this," Mason said. "It helps everyone."

Since plans for the yard sale were released to the public several weeks ago, Mason has heard from 60 to 70 households wanting to participate in the event. The gymnasium at the First Assembly of God Church at 312 Dearborn St. is rented out for the event, while the church's parking lot, the Schock Community Art Center at 311 E. Hickory St. and the caboose parking lot on Main Street are available for people to rent and hold their sales.

"I think for our first year this is pretty good," she said. "Most people are excited that we're doing it and asking if it's going to be an annual thing."

Maps with a listing of all the streets where there will be a yard sale should be available by Tuesday afternoon at the following Scott City businesses: Paradise Flowers and Gifts at 614 Second St. East, Casey's at 1110 Main St., Soups and Sweets at 2110 Main St., Timeless Treasures at 1326 Main St. and the Scott City Hall at 618 Main St.

People still wanting to participate in the citywide yard sale are welcome to hold yard sales next weekend, but they might not be able to get their sale location on the maps. Mason, however, said that should not prevent their yard sales from being a success.

"As long as they have signs out, people are going to come, whether they're on the map or not," Mason said.

Mason, who is the manager of Paradise Flowers and Gifts, can be contacted at (573) 264-2117 for more information.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182