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			The annual event begins fresh every year with new 
			donations of merchandise that will be sold over the three day period 
			but starts on Thursday evening prior to the garage sales with a 
			special preview night. 
			
			 
			
			 
			By noon on Wednesday the donations were pouring in 
			and the group already had enough to hold a ‘normal’ garage sale. But 
			as those who shop the event each year know, the HSLC garage sale is 
			far from ‘normal.’
 Volunteers were busy sorting through merchandise and setting up 
			designated areas for specific types of items.
 
			
			 
			
			 
			Things arriving early include some ornamental bird 
			cages, lots of outdoor and indoor décor items, yard ornaments, throw 
			pillows and lamps and much more. 
			
			 
			  
			
			 
			
			 
			The glassware was also coming in, as were the 
			miscellaneous Christmas decorations, and odds and ends such as yard 
			tools and luggage. 
			
			 
			
			 
			A notable donation for NASCAR fans is a completed 
			collection of NASCAR die-cast model cars. This collection features 
			more than likely more than 100 cars, though they had not been 
			counted yet on Wednesday morning. Each one is in ‘new in box’ 
			condition with some of them still having price tags on the box. 
			Marilyn Wheat picked up one box and noted that it had a $20 price 
			tag on it already. She said she didn’t think she would put that high 
			of price on them for the garage sale, maybe half price to that, she 
			wasn’t sure yet, but even so, for the avid collector, we’re betting 
			that your favorite driver will be in the mix. We saw for certain two 
			Dale Earnhart “3” cars including a gold edition, Petty cars, and at 
			least one Mark Martin. 
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			Volunteers Marilyn Wheat and Judy Conzo work to 
			organize the event each year, but to get everything laid out and 
			priced it takes a large team of volunteers working all over the 
			special events barn at the Logan County Fairgrounds.
 The group sells a lot of items such as jewelry and handbags and are 
			always anxious for those donations. The glassware and kids toys are 
			other popular items and we think we spied some Longaberger in the 
			mix.
 
			The annual garage sale is new merchandise every year 
			thanks to local auctioneer Mike Maske. The group will sell, sell, 
			sell during the designated weekend. What is left is then added into 
			a future auction by the popular auctioneers and sold off so that 
			next year once again everything offered will be for the first and 
			only time. 
			The Thursday night preview night is hugely popular each year, and is 
			definitely the time to go for those avid shoppers who want to get a 
			chance at everything there is available. There is a $5 admission 
			charged on Thursday night only, but with the prices and the product 
			available, that admission is well worth the money for a lot of 
			people.
 This year, the HSLC is hosting four collection days. The first was 
			Wednesday, and the next will be this Saturday, May 25th. The last 
			two days will be next week on Wednesday May 29th and on Saturday, 
			June 1st.
 
 Drop off hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of the remaining days. If 
			you have a donation but are unable to make it on those days at those 
			hours you may call 217-871-7853 and a volunteer will make 
			arrangements to meet you at the barn.
 
			
			 
			 
 The group does not take clothing, shoes, or electronics, but other 
			than that, whatever you have, they will put a price tag on it!
 
 The money raised from the garage sale goes to support the HSLC 
			shelter in Lincoln. The no-kill shelter is manned by one paid 
			employee and a lot of dedicated volunteers. The money they raise 
			goes primarily for the care of animals in the shelter.
 
 So, if you have items to get out of your garage or household closet 
			that you no longer need, the HSLC will be thrilled to take them off 
			your hands.
 
 And finally if you haven’t been to a HSLC garage sale, make this the 
			year you pay them a visit. Chances are they will have at least one 
			or two things on their tables that you will want to take home, and 
			the pets waiting for a home will be continue to be cared for.
 
 [Nila Smith]
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