Be safe, friendly

And so it begins.
On Saturday, garage sales sprung up around Portland like mushrooms after a summer rain.
Suddenly, the routine trip from one side of the county seat to the other was complicated, tangled, and potentially dangerous.
The 46th annual Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association show at the Jay County Fairgrounds doesn’t officially begin until Wednesday, but campers and exhibitors have been showing up for ten days or more. And now, with the show on the immediate horizon, the traffic of golf carts, visitors and shoppers will begin to grow exponentially.
For those of us who live in Jay County year-round, this surge of traffic requires a little getting used to.
Three bits of advice can make it go more smoothly.
Be careful.
Be friendly.
And be patient.
Though many of the golf cart drivers and garage sale shoppers have been coming to Portland for the engine show for years, others are here for the first time. They may not know the best route from point A to point B, and they’re sure to be distracted.
It’s up to the rest of us to make sure their visit to our community is safe and satisfying. After all, we want to see them back again next year. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]