Setzer begins each of her 46 suggested weekends with a brief summary of what to expect. She recommends places to stay and eat, things to do, sites to see, and special festivals and events around which you might want to build your visit to the area.

Whether you're interested in shopping for antiques, strolling through a museum, hiking through a natural area, playing a round of golf, visiting a historic site, listening to live music, finding a good picnic spot, going fishing, or participating in a multitude of other activities, this book makes your planning easy.

Lt. Governor Wicker, Panthers kick-off Pride in Fatherhood campaign

CHARLOTTE -- Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker, flanked by Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Attorney General Charles Condon of South Carolina, formally kicked off the new "Pride in Fatherhood" campaign today at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte. The campaign is a partnership between the Carolina Panthers and North and South Carolina's Child Support Enforcement agencies.

"Children whose fathers are involved in their lives are more likely to be successful and less likely to get involved in teen pregnancy and juvenile crime," said Lt. Gov. Wicker "A loving, supportive father who is there for his children makes a tremendous difference, and I know the Panthers will help us get that message out loud and clear."

Carolina Panthers players will act as spokesmen and role-models for the campaign by appearing in a series of advertisements, posters, and public service announcements. The first public service announcement, which will be shown on television stations across the Carolinas and at Panthers home games, features Eric Davis, Winslow Oliver and Davis' four children.

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said the partnership is a natural fit for the organization. "Our team is always looking for ways to give back to the community," he said. "This partnership is an ideal way for us to help make this worthy cause a success."

In addition to the public service campaign featuring the Panthers, North Carolina Child Support Enforcement will hold Father's Day celebrations featuring food, fun, games and celebrities in cities across the state on Father's Day, June 21.

Panthers fall to Titans 37-17

By Kelly L. Griffith
News Editor

The Carolina Panthers ended their winning streak on Sunday, Oct. 19 against the Tennessee Titans.
After winning the coin toss, the Panthers prepared for the kickoff. However, the Panthers did not anticipate the Titans’ on-side kick, allowing Tennessee to steal the football and score during their first possession.

After the first quarter, the Titans had two touchdowns and a field goal, while leaving the Panthers scoreless. The Panthers came back during the second quarter to kick a 53-yard field goal before Tennessee ran for another touchdown.

The Panthers’ defense managed to hold the Titans from scoring during the third quarter. In the last fifteen minute quarter of the game, Steve Smith and Nick Goings of the Panthers ran in for two touchdowns. The Titans scored a field goal and a touchdown during the fourth quarter, winning the game with a 37-17 lead.

In their 10th year as an NFL franchise, the Panthers went 5-0 before falling to defeat. The Panthers have faced several challenges throughout the season so far.

“I think that really our biggest challenge is how well we make sure we stay together,” starting linebacker Will Witherspoon said when asked about the season’s obstacles.

Witherspoon also said he thinks the team has done well because it is a unified group.

“I think things are working out well, but ultimately I think we benefited from last year and the guys have learned the system,” Witherspoon said.

Although the team is not superstitious, it does have an open player prayer time before each game. Witherspoon said the team gets together in the back of the locker room to pray over team injuries and the day’s game.

Despite their loss, the Panthers are still going strong and will be ready to face off with New Orleans on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.

North Carolina's NASCAR

NASCAR's first drivers found oval track racing something of a letdown. After all, they had spent years eluding police pursuit on twisty mountain roads behind the wheel of suped-up cars loaded with moonshine. Once you've played high-speed hide and seek, where's the excitement of just going around a flat track with no sirens blaring from cars full of revenuers? Junior Johnson was one of those drivers who learned his craft on dirt mountain roads. Says Johnson, "About all your good dirt track drivers were involved in moonshine. That's kind of the way it started." Then in 1948, promoter Bill France came along and began to place some structure on this haphazard fledgling sport. France founded NASCAR, developed some rules, took the cars out off cornfield dirt tracks and began selling tickets to events. The first "official" NASCAR race was held in Charlotte in June 1949. A number of bootleggers - Curtis Turner and Bob Flock for instance - were behind the wheel in this first race. Combine the moonshine mystique with the rule breaking and you have the recipe for an outlaw image that has driven this pastime to near cult status. Stock car racing came into its own in the 50s as more and better speedways were built. Charlotte Motor Speedway - designed and built by O. Bruton Smith and partner Curtis Turner - was the penultimate speedway when it opened in 1959. The 1.5-mile super speedway outside of Charlotte hosted its first World 600 June 19, 1960. Today it's known as Lowe's Motor Speedway, and it has led many of racing's innovations in the last four decades. From an exclusive dining facility called the Speedway Club to year-round condominiums above the first turn, Lowe's Motor Speedway has turned the sport into a business and taken it upscale. You can experience it yourself at one of NASCAR's biggest events, the Coca-Cola 600 held in May. Drivers say besides being the longest race, it is also one of the most punishing. But the 600 is not just a race. The 600 Festival Air & Speed Show kicks off with family-oriented events on the ground and in the air. Fans can see NASCAR drivers and their cars in the UAW-GM Teamwork Parade, or enjoy the live bands and attractions at Food Lion Speed Street in uptown Charlotte. Admission for all 600 Festival events is free. Tickets are available for the races and behind the scenes events. So, for a peek under the hood of the sport born of moonshine, the month of May offers you an excellent opportunity. Or, visit the links below to learn more about stock car racing in North Carolina. RESOURCES www.ncarhof.com www.600festival.com www.lowesmotorspeedway.com www.northcarolinaspeedway.com www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin www.ncmotorsportsassociation.org