Start of school traffic concerns

Motorists in Etowah county are likely to face traffic snarls tomorrow at  the first day of school coincides with the beginning of the worlds longest yard sale.

.The yard sale takes place each year from the first Thursday in August to the following Sunday. It begins in Gadsden at Noccalula Falls Park and continues on Lookout Mountain Parkway toward Chattanooga. That route is Tabor Road in Etowah County.

The yard sale is free and takes place in all types of weather. Vendors set up in yards, churches — anywhere there is open space along the route. It ends near the Michigan and Ohio border.

Its route will go past at least two schools — Mitchell Elementary and Highland Elementary — on their busiest day, and local law enforcement already is planning for the extra traffic from both events.

Chief Deputy Michael Barton said the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office command post will be set up from Thursday to Sunday on property at Highland School, and the sheriff’s motor and bike patrols and the mounted unit will be working in the area.

Barton said extra deputies will be stationed all along Tabor Road and especially in the school zone.

He said the command center will be available for those on the sale route also who need assistance or have questions.