Tuesday night, Charlotte Motor Speedway is honoring local police, firefighter and EMS employees with First Responders Night at the Jack in the Box Summer Shootout Series.

All first responders will gain free admission with their employee IDs, plus there will be a “Guns n’ Hoses” school bus race.

In addition to the usual slate of Legend Car and Bandolero Racing, fans can watch as area first responders compete in the last school bus race of the year.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and Free for kids 13 and under.

Participating departments include: Harrisburg Fire Department, the Albemarle Police Department and Fire Department, Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the Charlotte Fire Department.

Visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com for more info.

HICKORY, NC – The community is encouraged to come out to celebrate an historic event August 10 and 11 full of music, people and fun.  

The grand opening of the new structure on Union Square in downtown Hickory will begin on Friday, August 10 at 6:00 p.m. when the new name of the structure is announced.  Following the historic announcement and recognition of the “name contest” winner one of the area’s favorite steel drum band’s Pan Jive will perform until 8:30 p.m.

The entertainment continues on Saturday, August 11 after the Downtown Hickory Farmers Market, when the Hickory Music Factory Drum Circle performs between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

HICKORY - Lenoir-Rhyne University is pleased to announce the 24th season of the Visiting Writers Series. For almost three decades the Series has brought world-renowned authors to the Hickory, NC campus to discuss and read from their own works in a relaxed environment before university and community audiences.

The 2012-13 season kicks off on September 6th at 7:00pm with international best-seller Nicholas Sparks. The event, which is cosponsored by Hickory Public Library, is free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.