For the month of October, all around the town of Eureka 107 scarecrows can be seen as a part of the Eureka Scarecrow Festival.

Mrs. Barbara Scheer, founder of Scarecrow Festival, approached the city officials about the idea and, once approved, started putting it into the works as early as January of this year.

“Not only do we have the ideal downtown layout to showcase scarecrows effectively, but we also have many creative organizations and individuals in our community for the design and creation process…,” Mrs. Scheer said in a direct email, Oct. 21. “My vision was to create a ‘destination’ for our local residents as well as for the people traveling I-44 to view fall foliage.”

Starting in March, after putting together a list of local businesses, churches and organizations in the month prior, Scheer sent out a letter in the mail to everyone on the list inform businesses and to acquire accurate email addresses and phone numbers of those wanting to participate.

EHS, along with Blevins Elementary and Eureka Elementary participated in the festival. Mrs. Gail Haynes, science teacher, constructed the EHS scarecrow.

“I thought it would be neat for us [EHS] to participate, and Mrs. Asher thought it was a good idea, as well. It was really easy to put one together,” Mrs. Haynes said. “It was so easy to do I thought, ‘I can do this and still get my papers graded.’”

Boy Scout Troop 322 of Eureka decided to participate and make a scarecrow of their own.

“By making a scarecrow, we wanted to promote our troop and our efforts to help the food pantry here,” Zach Hawkins’s, a member of troop 322, said.“We collect items in November.”

All the scarecrows aren’t the typical, traditional scarecrows made of straw. Instead, they’re works of art made of a variety of materials ranging from paper mache, clay and wire with articles of clothing, paint or props to help decorate them.

“We had a troop meeting where we made the scarecrow and we dressed it up,” Connor Dolan, a member of troop 322, said. “It’s got a scout shirt on, and it’s body is covered in camo.”

Mr. Steve Grzyb, local artist, made two scarecrows. Other individuals, friends of Mrs. Scheer, helped to show those who were participating, how to make a non-traditional, work-of-art scarecrow.

“A lot of people didn’t understand the projects right off. They thought of a scarecrow the traditional straw scarecrow, and what I was trying to position was a true art project so I went out and recruited people who were really creative and artistic,” Mrs. Scheer said in a phone interview, Oct. 21.

People are invited to pay $1 to vote on which scarecrow they think is the best to benefit the local charities including Eureka Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels and the EHS Scholarship Program.

Students interested in voting can vote at an secretaries office inside EHS or at Farmers and Merchants Bank, Jefferson Bank and Trust, Rockwood Bank or The Timbers. Voting is open until close of business, Oct. 28.

After all the voting is counted awards will be given for the following categories:

• First Place Business
• First Place Creator (of winning business scarecrow)
• Second Place Business
• Second place creator (of second place winning scarecrow)
• Outstanding School Scarecrow
• Outstanding Church or Organization

The awards were set to be given at the Masquerade Ball which was to be held this Saturday. It got cancelled, however, because of only a small number of people signing up. New plans to formally award the winners is still in discussion according to Mrs. Scheer.

For voting, standings and aditional pictures visit the www.scarecrowfestivaleureka.com