What better way to kick off the football season than winning $500 in cash?

"We are sure that folks all over Anson County will enjoy looking for our Golden Football,” said Anson Record publisher Rick Bacon.

“Think of this as the Anson Record's economic stimulus package.”

We have hidden a golden football somewhere in Anson County. Inside the ball is a certificate of authenticity. If you find the ball and bring it to the Anson Record offices at 123 East Martin St., Suite 400, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. . we will give you $500 in cash.

By the time the football is found it may be more blue and green than gold.

“We spray painted a Nerf brand football gold, but when you handle it, the gold flakes off,” Bacon said. “The certificate of authenticity is stuffed into a slit we made in the side of the ball.”

There is only one official Anson Record Golden Football and you’ll need the certificate inside to claim the prize.

Clues will run each Wednesday from August 19 until September 16 but you can get a jump by visiting our ten participating merchants on Fridays and Tuesdays for advanced looks at the next edition's clues. The participating merchants include these Wadesboro merchants: Burger King, Badcock Furniture, Carolina Physical Rehab, Aurora Family Counseling, H.W.Little, Waffle House, and Treasure Corner. You can also see the clues at Kat Daddy Fish Market in Morvan, With All My Heart in Peachland and Carolina Complete Care for Women in Monroe.

No clues will be given over the telephone.

If the Golden Football is found before the last clues run we will have an entry blank printed in the paper and have a second chance drawing for a $100 prize.

The ball will be hidden somewhere in the county that welcomes the public. That means it could be at any business, church, public building or school. It will be hidden in such a way that you may not be able to see it without moving vegetation but it will not be buried or be placed behind a locked gate or fence. It will not be hidden at anyone's personal residence. There may or may not be hidden meanings in the clues. That's for the searchers to figure out.

The official rules:

n The football is located on property open to the public.

n The person finding the football must bring it to The Anson Record office during regular business hours. In addition to bringing the football, you must bring the official authorization form (located inside the football) to prove authenticity.

n Claiming prizes authorizes the newspaper to use your name and picture in the newspaper.

n Two clues will be announced in the paper each of the days the ad runs (5 times).

n Clues will be posted at participating stores before they are published in the newspaper. One on Friday and another on Tuesday.

n The football should be visible without moving any permanent structures. It may be slightly covered by vegetation, but it is not guaranteed that it will not be covered by debris.

n There is only one authentic Anson Record Golden Football.

n Clues are available only by purchasing the paper or stopping by participating stores.

n If someone finds the football early -- we’ll accept entries from an entry blank published on each additional ad until the five ads run. This will be for a second chance drawing for $100.