Jim Thorpe has been invaded by scarecrows. Some are pretty; some are funny; some are outrageous.

The Jim Thorpe Historic District scarecrow display and contest was first started in 1989 but has been absent for the past several years. The return of the scarecrows to Jim Thorpe is a great success. It's evident a great deal of thought went into designing each scarecrow.As part of the annual Fall Foliage Festival each business was invited to place a scarecrow or figure in front of their business depicting the product of that business. Broadway, West Broadway and Race Street were decorated with these friendly characters.After carefully viewing all 26 scarecrows, judges from the Jim Thorpe Lioness Club awarded the three most outstanding displays which best indicated the business: Best of Show was awarded to the Dimmick Memorial Library with a scarecrow family of rakes and brooms as figures with each figure reading a book. Most Unique was awarded to Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank for its ghostly man with money in his fingers. Funniest (in an unusual way) went to Blue Mountain Sports and Wear for its display of a bicycle crash scarecrow.Other notable displays were the Treasure Shop's Made in the USA Man, Antonio's Italian Restaurant's Pizza Maker Man, Rosemary's Remembrances' Lovely Lady and Black Diamond Gallery's Sitting Artist. The scarecrows will remain on display throughout the month. Some may enjoy Jim Thorpe so much they may stay around into November.An award of $25 was presented to the Dimmick Memorial Library by the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency.The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency's Scarecrow Contest will be expanded next year when schools and community groups will be invited to enter a scarecrow to be displayed in the Josiah White Park by the Railroad Station.