Winning ticket is $10,000

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

— “I’ve been numb for days,” Brenda Kreitzer said, after learning that the $10 scratch off lottery ticket she purchased was worth $10,000.

“It was just one of those fluke things,” Kreitzer said, explaining that she usually plays the lottery every day. An employee at the Pea Ridge White Oak station, Kreitzer said she buys a ticket as she leaves for the evening.

“I had clocked out and was getting ready to leave,” she said. She scratched off several numbers, but didn’t realize what she had.

“I saw a bunch of zeroes,” Kreitzer said, admitting she didn’t notice the dollar amount. As she showed the ticket to a fellow employee, he saw it was worth $10,000.

“I was just numb. I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I wanted to make sure sure so I went to the claims office.”

Kreitzer said she immediately drove to the claims office in Springdale.

The local stores redeem prizes up to $500. Tickets for more than $500 but less than $1 million are paid at the Springdale claims office. Tickets worth $1 million or more are paid by the Little Rock office.

“We’ve paid about three $500 tickets,” she said, adding that about $300 is paid out daily, mostly in $20 increments.

After state and federal taxes are withheld, Kreitzer walked out of the Sprindale claims office with $6,800.

“I’ve put it away safe,” she said.

“I was just so excited.”

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery prizes are subject to all applicable state and federal taxes.

Persons must be 18 years of age or older to purchase.

News, Pages 1 on 06/23/2010