Scratching leads to rash of local lottery winners
Staff Writer
Two local stores have seen a lot of scratching going on, but customers aren’t buying ointments and lotions but rather lottery tickets, in hopes of being the next big winner, thanks to some significant recent wins.
A rash of winners from a dollar or two up to as much as $250,000 have occurred at Ray’s Corner Variety in Presque Isle and the Washburn Food Mart in Washburn. Each store has seen a significant sum won in recent weeks, with Ray’s reporting the largest at a quarter million dollars during the last week in January.
The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased a $10 In the Money instant ticket — and ‘in the money’ he was, once he finished scratching to reveal he’d won the top prize.
News of the win has generated additional business at the Academy St. store, known for its friendly service and take-out menu.
“We’ve seen a lot more traffic since the win was announced. We’ve had the usual smaller wins on tickets but we also had a $1,000 winner last week,” said owner Raylene “Ray” Shaw. “People are starting to call the place ‘Lucky Ray’s.’”
This isn’t the first time Ray’s has had a big winner. In August 2007, Ray’s sold a winning Megabucks ticket to a Presque Isle man. The ticket’s cash value, according to the Maine Lottery Web site was just over $5.9 million.
“It’s good for business,” said Shaw.
Ray’s will take in $2,500 for selling the winning ticket. In 2007, the store received about $30,000 for selling that winning slip of paper. The funds were used for upgrades to the business.
Another big winner was reported in Washburn just days after the Presque Isle win.
“We had a winner Jan. 29. Stacey and Tim Willette, of Washburn, purchased a $3 Gifts ticket and won $75,000,” said Dan Martin, owner of the Washburn Food Mart, located on Main Street.
Martin said sales of lottery tickets picked up at his store too, once news of the win spread.
“Hopefully business will continue. It gets people in the store. When folks win, it’s a good feeling,” said Martin.
A sign outside the store was posted shortly after the win, congratulating the couple on their good fortune.
Martin said big wins like this mean wins for the stores as well.
“The store gets 1 percent of the win’s value,” he said. “That comes in handy, when you’re running a business in a small community.”
The Washburn Food Mart, which carries a full line of groceries and sells pizzas and sandwiches. has seen a number of wins over the years, but this was the largest Martin could recall.
“We’ve had several $10,000 winners, this is my biggest. Last time I had a $10,000 winner, we had two in the same week,” said Martin.
At least two other Aroostook County stores have reported big wins in recent years, according to the Maine Lottery Web site. Real Picard recently purchased a $2 Triple 7s ticket at Morin’s Variety in Madawaska and won $17,000. And in 2008, Tenney’s Country Store, of Mapleton, sold a Megabucks ticket that earned the holder nearly $340,000.
Maine Lottery officials urge participants to “play responsibly.” For more lottery information, visit www.mainelottery.com.
