FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Thursday, December 11, 2008

 

CONTACT: David Workman         

(208) 334-2600

                                

Orofino Woman wins $7,000 on Lottery game Triple 777

 

Boise – After a fourteen-year absence, the Idaho Lottery resumed operations in Orofino during a training and information session for community leaders on November 18, 2008. Just three weeks later, Shani Gray of Orofino purchased a $2 Triple 777 Scratch^TM ticket from a new Lottery vending machine at Barney’s Harvest Foods on Highway 12 and became the community’s first big winner when she claimed the game’s top prize of $7,000.

 

“That’s pretty cool,” said Gray, a pharmacy technician who has lived in Orofino most of her life and did not realize she was the area’s first big winner. “I’m just happy the Lottery is in Orofino now.”

 

A regular Lottery player, Gray used to drive about 80 miles round trip to get her tickets. Now, it’s a short commute to pick up one of her favorite games in her own hometown. “I work in the store right next door to where I bought my winner, so it’s pretty easy for me to get a Lottery ticket now,” added Gray.

 

For their part in selling the winning ticket, Barney’s Harvest Foods will receive a bonus of $840 from the Idaho Lottery.

 

Just a week before, Triple 777’s other top prize of $7,000 was claimed by Sandra Knieriem of Pierce who also bought her ticket in Clearwater County at the Pierce Mini Mart in Pierce.

 

“It’s a great way to start out the holidays,” said Gray who was planning to invest the money.

 

The Idaho Lottery currently has 13 retailers distributed throughout the communities of Orofino, Kamiah, Kooskia, Lapwai, Nez Perce, and Winchester.

 

Gray is available for comment.  Photo is also available.

 

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ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY

The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Scratch™ tickets, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and buildings. Since it’s inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold more than $1.7 billion in sales, awarded over $1 billion in prizes to players, returned more than $100 million in retail commissions, and distributed more than $402 million in Lottery dividends to state public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.