by Nancy Gardiner
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 21/97) - One of the more popular products for sale at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre is, again, the "Ragged Ass Road" sign.

Shaped like dark green street signs, they sell for $29 each. And they're selling so well, it's difficult to keep them in stock.

Ragged Ass was the name of an old mining company once in the area.

Last year, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce ordered 650 of the signs to sell at the centre, says executive director Cheryl Best. And they sold every one. So far this year, about 50 have sold.

Canadian rock musician Tom Cochrane's Ragged Ass Road tune has helped create international recognition.

"These signs are all over the world and people put them in their homes and cottages," says Melissa Daoust, manager of the Visitors Centre, located across the street from the Explorer Hotel.

Teenagers like them for their rooms too. "They're fascinated with a place having a name like that and want to know the history behind it," says Daoust.

But not everyone is endeared by it. Some people may be offended.

"One person told me their in-laws had it posted at their cabin and the whole community petitioned to have it taken down -- they didn't see the humor in it," Daoust says.

Daoust says other big sellers are arctic fleece tops, ball caps, T-shirts and "anything with Ragged Ass Road written on it."