Guinness Denies Hoschton Scarecrow Record

HOSCHTON, Ga. (AP) -- Guinness World Records says Hoschton failed to set the world record for most scarecrows in one place. But the town, which set up 5,441 scarecrows by Sept. 1, maintains it set a record.

Local businesswoman Robbie Bettis organized the effort. She said London-based Guinness didn't accept the Jackson County town's attempt because the scarecrows needed to be all in one place, not spread throughout the town's 30548 ZIP code.

Bettis said the Miami-based World Record Academy recently declared that the town does, indeed, hold the world record for scarecrows. But as far as Guinness is concerned, the Cincinnati Horticultural Society still holds the record.

The Ohio organization assembled 3,311 scarecrows in 2003 to set the record.