May 23, 2018 - Salem, Ore. – Joseph Houck of Redmond won $25,000 playing an Oregon Lottery Scratch-it.
The Redmond-based finishing carpenter said he went to Logan’s Market to get some dinner and also picked up Scratch-its. He purchased four Scratch-its and said three of them were winners. But one ticket especially caught his attention, the “$3 Sky High Crossword."
“I played the ticket and started counting words. At first I thought I had seven words for $50, then eight for $100,” he said. “That’s when I decided to scan it and the clerk couldn’t believe it. It was worth $25,000! I screamed and yelled and jumped around.”
With a top prize of $25,000, there are still two jackpot prize-winning tickets of the $3 Sky High Crossword available, after Houck’s win. Houck said he signed the ticket and took it to several other stores just to make sure it was a big winner. Then he made the trip to Salem to claim his prize. He said he plans to buy a new truck and take a trip to see the redwoods in California.
“I will probably stay down there five days,” he said. “Did you know one is the height of a 36-story building? That’s amazing.”
During the 2015-17 biennium in Deschutes County, where Houck lives, more than $28.9 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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