Busted’ jukebox leads to being "Picked Off"

SHALLOTTE—While Shallotte’s two national TV stars didn’t make it into the finals of the new show “Picked Off,” they now own a Hitler-skunk bank and are in the process of purchasing a jukebox.

Rachel Johnson

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On Wednesday, July 25, Justin Ward and John Pettry, Shallotte firemen and EMTs, appeared on the History Channel’s “Picked Off” wearing their Shallotte Honor Guard shirts.

Ward and Pettry appeared on the show’s third episode called “Outside the Box.” The show pits four teams of two amateur pickers against one another in a competition for a $10,000 prize.

While they didn’t win $10,000, Ward and Pettry agree the experience was insightful—and they are adding a few items picked on the show to their personal collections.

When Ward and Pettry returned to the firehouse after the episode aired, they opened their lockers and found deer antlers—a prank pulled by a co-worker.

During the first challenge on the show, the duo bought a mounted deer head. When watching the show, Ward and Pettry said there had been a lot of editing. It appeared they spent $100 on the deer head but in actuality they bargained the price down to $40.

“We had $60 left over and thought it would carry over into the next challenge,” Pettry said. “I guess I was a little confused by the rules.”

“We knew the head was worth some money,” Ward said. “We actually wanted the ram’s head.”

While the deer head didn’t bring the highest price in the first competition round, it was enough to move them into challenge No. 2.

They were eliminated in round two after bargaining and trading items including a Hitler-skunk bank, an air machine and an antique sign for a jukebox that was later appraised at $100 because it was thought to be broken.

“I stand behind the jukebox,” Pettry said. “It was worth more than $100 and it wasn’t broken.”

He and Ward explained the lift-on fuse to the record player was broken and the part could be fixed for $40. They knew this when they purchased it; however, the information never made it to the judges.

Pettry stands behind the jukebox so much he is currently bidding on it in an auction. He says he knows it’s worth about $1,000, and the proof of its worth is the starting bid price of almost $400.

“We could only have one item according to the rules,” Ward said explaining why they traded all they had picked that was valued at $1,100 for the jukebox.

Ward purchased the Hitler face-skunk bank on eBay shortly after the show.

“I think we deserved to be redeemed,” Pettry said. “When I get that jukebox fixed I am going to show them everything, and hopefully we’ll get another chance.”

Both Ward and Pettry agree they would love a chance to do it again, especially now that they understand the rules and the filming process.

Despite being pitted against their competitors on the show, Ward and Pettry say they all became fast friends.

“We got to be close,” Ward said. “We all ate together and are still in touch. We all became good friends and plan to keep in touch.”

While Ward and Pettry didn’t end up with the loot on “Picked Off,” they haven’t slowed down their picking in the area. In fact, they are constantly looking for new places to pick. If you have a place for them to pick, send an email to southernpickers15@gmail.com. 

Rachel Johnsonis a staff writer at The Brunswick Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or rjohnson@brunswickbeacon.com.