Reginald Caldwell of Charlotte plans to get some much needed rest and relaxation after winning a $200,000 lottery prize.
“It’s been six years since I’ve been on a real vacation,” said Caldwell, who works as a mixing room supervisor at Snyder’s. “I’m going to take my 16-year-old daughter to Charleston.”
Caldwell’s good fortune happened when he bought a “$” ticket at the Rite Aid on Fairview Road in Charlotte.
When Caldwell scratched the $5 ticket, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
“I was stunned,” Caldwell said “I didn’t have my glasses on, so at first I wasn’t sure exactly what I had won, but then I saw ‘Top Prize.’”
Caldwell claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $139,003. In addition to going on vacation, Caldwell plans to get a new truck.
“$” launched in January with four top prizes of $200,000. One top prize remains.
Ticket sales from games like “$” made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million for the state last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.