March 9, 2018 - Salem, Ore. -- Spencer Hardman and Zak Sowards deserved to have a little fun at the end of last week.
The two men, who work for Alpha Environmental, spent the week replacing a 1,000-gallon septic system. They have pictures to prove it.
"Yeah, it was cold and rainy and we were standing in the muck all week," Hardman said. "So on Friday we decided to go out."
While they were out, they swung by a Dotty's in Beaverton and played Wild Witch on Video Lottery.
"When I won $1,912 I thought the weekend was turning around," Sowards said. "We were having a lot of fun and it was even better when we won."
So Saturday, after seeing a movie with his fiancé, Hardman decided to try Wild Witch again.
"I put in $25 and within three spins I'd won $5,100!" Hardman said. "I didn't mean to show Zach up, but I guess with our week at work, we deserved to have some good luck."
Hardman said he called Sowards on Sunday and told him he won the jackpot.
"I kept telling him to stop pulling my leg," Sowards said. "I couldn't believe it."
The two men claimed their prizes together at the Oregon Lottery's Wilsonville Claim Center. They said they still couldn't believe their luck. Hardman had just bought his fiancé a ring and now doesn't have to worry about the cost. Sowards said he hadn't made plans with what to do with his winnings.
"Overall it was a great end to the week," Spencer said.
During the 2015-17 biennium in Multnomah County, where the two men live, more than $108 million in Oregon Lottery proceeds were directed to economic development, parks, education and watershed enhancement.
Lottery officials recommend that you always sign the back of your tickets with each Oregon Lottery game you play, to ensure you can claim any prize you may win. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 should contact the Lottery office to schedule an appointment to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $11 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org
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