A crew from Cineflix, a television production company that produces shows such as History’s “American Pickers,” visited Pickens County last week to shoot footage for a prospective reality TV show. The group of four, which included videographers and producers, experienced much of what the area has to offer, from taking a ride-along with Pickens police to visiting local restaurants, watering holes and merchants. Above, crew member Peter Crystal shoots footage of Six Mile resident Austin Mauldin during a fishing trip on Lake Keowee. The crew also accompanied Courier reporters on assignments, as well as Courier photographer Kerry Gilstrap on several photo shoots. Below, crew members and Courier reporter Nicole Daughhetee speak with Pickens County Clerk of Court Pat Welborn and John Howard at the Senior Center of Pickens.

Above, seniors enjoy their weekly dinner at the Senior Center of Pickens last Tuesday evening. Below, members of the senior band perform live music during the event.

Senior Center Band

By Nicole Daughhetee, Courier Staff

PICKENS — When the SDPC abandoned the original 1929 Pickens Middle School building, the City of Pickens acquired it and for the lease price of $1 per year, the building has become home to the Senior Center of Pickens.

The lease price was certainly a steal, but with it came the reality of a 1929 building desperately in need of repairs and renovations, which are coming along slowly but steadily thanks to a committed board of trustees and devoted volunteers.

Pickens County Clerk of Court Pat Welborn and Keowee Key resident John Howard are two of those dedicated to creating a place for seniors in Pickens County to enjoy recreation, socialization and gourmet, home-cooked meals twice daily.

“We want to give back to our seniors. They didn’t have anywhere to meet,” said Howard. “These are people who have contributed much throughout their lives to our county and community. They need a place to call their own.”

Kerry Gilstrap/CourierA Puerto Rico baserunner slides safely into first on a pick-off attempt during last year’s Big League World Series championship game against the S.C. District 1 host team in Easley. This year’s series is under way now, with the title game scheduled to be televised on ESPN next Wednesday evening.

Big League World Series

EASLEY — The Big League World Series swings into action this week at Easley’s J.B. “Red” Owens Complex, with 11 teams from around the world vying for the right to be called world champion.
The series will feature several familiar squads, including a matchup of rival Upstate teams on Saturday evening, as the U.S. Southeast champion S.C. District 7 squad of Greenville will battle the S.C. District 1 host team at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to the host team and the Greenville team, which have combined to win six BLWS titles since the series’ move to Easley in 2001, the Thousand Oaks, Calif., squad representing the U.S. West region will be back after earning the crown in 2006.
The host team hasn’t won the tournament since 2007, although it should be considered among the favorites this year after falling to Puerto Rico in the championship game last year.
In addition to the host team, Thousand Oaks and S.C. District 7 — which went 5-0 last week in the southeast tournament to earn its way into the BLWS — other teams from around the U.S. include New Jersey District 2, Michigan District 9 and Texas District 28, representing U.S. East, Central and Southwest, respectively.
International teams in Easley will be Tlaquepaque, Mexico, an automatic qualifier, as well as a squad from Maracaibo, Venezuela, one from Tao-Yuan County, Chinese Taipei, one from Fraser Valley, British Columbia, and Germany District 2.
The teams will each play four games within either the international or U.S. pool between today and Monday, with the two teams with the best records in each pool facing off in semifinal matchups on Tuesday.
The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised live by ESPN.

2013 Schedule

From left, Katie Elrod, Mattie Dalton and Brooklyn Garrett are pictured on Capitol Hill with the Capitol dome in the background.

WASHINGTON — Three young women recently represented Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in Washington, D.C., at the annual Washington Youth Tour, a week-long experience shared with students nationwide.

Mattie Dalton, Katie Elrod and Brooklyn Garrett were chosen from a larger group of applicants to take part in this cooperative learning environment that includes a visit to many of the monuments and historical sites in Washington.