— Johnston County is a bargain hunters' mecca this weekend. The 301 Endless Yard Sale –a 30-mile stretch of clothes, knick-knacks, furniture and collectibles – began at 7 a.m. Friday and runs through 7 p.m. Saturday.

Individuals, families, craft vendors and churches line the road from Benson to Kenly, Selma and Smithfield.

Many sellers are working out of well-established visitor sites, such as the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly, TWM Antiques in Selma and the Smithfield Community Farmers Market.

Tom Abdalla and his brother, who work as antique dealers in Selma, came up with the idea after buying bargains at a 700-mile annual yard sale that stretches along a U.S. highway from Michigan to Alabama.

“I started thinking about it. We have (U.S.) Highway 301, and 301 would be an ideal place for this endless yard sale in Johnston County,” Abdalla said.

The brothers brought their idea to Selma Mayor Cheryl Oliver, who loved the idea. “Let them see all that these small towns have to offer,” she said.

For those concerned about the potential traffic problems the yard sale could cause on U.S. 301, Abdalla offers this advice.

“You have Interstate 95. If locals want to bypass it, they can,” he said.