House Resolution 146
Written by Rep. Tommy Benton and Terry England
A RESOLUTION Commending and recognizing the Hoschton Fall Festival Committee and the citizens of Hoschton, Georgia, for setting a world record for the Most Scarecrows in One Location; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Mayor Bill Copenhaver and lifelong resident Robbie Bettis cochaired the Hoschton Fall Festival Committee composed of Chuck Cope, Chris Hoffman, Theresa Kenerly, Leah Nelson, Nancy Rhodes, John Schulte, Richard Shepherd, Kristen Smith, Lisa Stovall, Ray Vaughn, Tom Walden and Mark Williams; and
WHEREAS, the Hoschton Fall Festival Committee announced on May 12, 2008, that the city would be attempting to earn a world record for the most scarecrows in one location to be completed in time for the Fall Festival; and
WHEREAS, the committee set a goal to have 4,000 scarecrows within the city limits of Hoschton, Georgia, on Sept. 1, 2008, and this goal was surpassed with an amazing 5,441 scarecrows, earning the city a world record from the World Records Academy; and
WHEREAS, the scarecrow count of 5,441 was proudly verified by John Oxendine, State Insurance Commissioner, and Shane Short, Executive Director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, the committee worked valiantly advertising the Hoschton Fall Festival of Sept. 26 and 27, 2008, which resulted in a new record for attendance with approximately 25,000 attendees; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Hoschton, Georgia, and the surrounding area, including mayors from five other cities in Jackson County, came together with unbelievable community spirit to produce a plethora of scarecrows; and
WHEREAS, the local businesses, churches, organizations, schools, farms, and subdivisions joined in the effort, gathering to make and display the scarecrows; and
WHEREAS, the Hoschton Women’s Civic Club, Hoschton First Baptist Church, Georgia Kids Academy, Deer Creek Farms Subdivision, and Publix received recognition as having the most scarecrows within their category; and
WHEREAS, the local nonprofit organization known as Driving Magic, Inc., a group providing therapeutic and recreational equine-assisted activities for children and adults with developmental or physical disabilities or both, focusing on therapeutic carriage driving and horsemanship programs for both ambulatory participants and those needing wheelchair accessibility, received $1 for each of the first 1,000 scarecrows from Publix; and
WHEREAS, the scarecrows received local, state, national, and international media coverage with newspapers, radios, magazines, Internet sites, and television; and
WHEREAS, the scarecrows brought tourism to the City of Hoschton, the County of Jackson, and the State of Georgia with thousands of photos and videos made by thousands of people visiting the area to attend the festival, who now know the correct way to pronounce “Hoschton.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the Hoschton Fall Festival Committee on its world record with the Most Scarecrows in One Location, its worldwide recognition through media coverage, and the enormous contribution this effort made to the local economy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Mayor of Hoschton, Bill Copenhaver.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/hr146.htm
ATLANTA — Somewhere between considering new legislation and dealing with the state’s budget crisis, the Georgia House of Representatives made time to honor the Hoschton Fall Festival Committee and the city’s residents for their work toward setting a world record.
House Reps. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, and Terry England, R-Auburn, penned House Resolution 146 “commending and recognizing the Hoschton Fall Festival Committee and the citizens of Hoschton, Georgia, for setting a world record for the Most Scarecrows in One Location; and for other purposes,” the resolution notes.
It was written during the second week of the legislative session then read and adopted on Jan. 28.
Guinness denied the city’s bid for the world record because scarecrows were stationed across the Hoschton zip code, rather than in one central location. However, the Florida-based World Records Academy said the city reached a new world record, a point that was noted in the resolution.
“Well, we just thought that Hoschton ought to be honored even though they didn’t get the Guinness World Record,” Benton said.
Benton also said he had the chance to donate to the cause and drove through the city a few times to see the scarecrows.
“Some of them were quite original,” he said.
Hoschton Mayor Bill Copenhaver said he was glad to hear about the resolution and all it means.
“We’re very appreciative of the support of Tommy (Benton) and everybody in Jackson County for helping us reach the record,” he said.
The city will receive a certificate with the resolution on it within the next week, which will be framed and placed in Hoschton City Hall. Copenhaver also said the city is waiting to receive its certificate from the World Records Academy noting the scarecrow record, and could receive one from the U.S. Congress as well.
“I just got a phone call from Rep. Paul Broun’s office yesterday, and hopefully within the next two weeks the resolution will be part of the Congressional Record,” which means the resolution will be put in the minutes for Congress’s session, he said. “We’ll get a certificate for that, too.”