VENTURA : City Will Auction Some Offbeat Items

Basketball trading cards, firefighter helmets and traffic signals are among the offbeat items that will be on the block Saturday at the city of Ventura’s auction of unclaimed and surplus property.

Among the other items available are desks, stereo equipment, video recorders, hand tools, bicycles, typing stands, jewelry and a television.

The auction will begin at 10 a.m. at the city’s maintenance yard, 336 S. Sanjon Road, with gates opening at 8 a.m. for inspections by potential buyers.

All goods to be auctioned were either stolen articles that went unclaimed or city-owned items that are no longer needed.

Although no minimum bid has been established, the auctioneer has the discretion to reject bids considered too low, said Shirley Needles of J&J; Auction, who will wield the gavel on Saturday.

“I can’t hear the bid if it’s under $2.50,” Needles said, explaining her approach to pricing.

All items are sold without warranty and must be paid for by the end of the auction. For further information, call J&J; Auction at 653-5318.