BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô The $500,000 Spring Raffle winning ticket was sold on the second Sunday of sales during the two-month long campaign at the corner Big Smoke store on Broadway in Boise to Susan Glenn. That particular Sunday, though, was really a particular date for Glenn as it marked the birthday of her late father.

"May 9. I told myself that day I just needed to get down to the store and buy a couple of those raffle tickets because it was my father's birthday," explained Glenn. "I only bought two other tickets, and those were on my late mother's birthday. They're the two people you can count on most."

Glenn found out she had the winning ticket when a neighbor called to tell her what the winning numbers were. She checked three of her tickets and at first didn't see the winner because it was stuck to one of the others. When she finally discovered it, she told her neighbor she had the actual $500,000 winner.

"He didn't believe me. He asked if I was playing an April Fools joke on him and I said, it's not April and I have the winning ticket," described Glenn, who then signed the ticket immediately.

Glenn moved to Boise seven years ago to find a better place to live. She loves Idaho, the people, the greenery and trees as well as the big city ÔÇô small town feel of Boise. And with her newfound winnings, Glenn plans to pay off her house in Boise and perhaps buy a new "tank-less" water heater, then save the rest of her winnings.

"Daddy was a saver," added Glenn. "I guess maybe he was watching out for me."

For their part in selling the top winning $500,000 Spring Raffle ticket, Big Smoke received a bonus from the Idaho Lottery of $20,000.

After a $500,000 Spring Raffle campaign that featured the number "5" ÔÇô among others were $5 tickets, 5,000 total prizes, a Cinco de Mayo (5/5) special offer, and a live announcement of the winning number at Alive After 5 in Boise at 5 p.m. - ironically enough Glenn entered the Idaho Lottery Winner's Lobby to claim her prize on Thursday, July 1 shortly after 5 p.m.

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