Vernonia Woman Wins $100K On Lottery Scratch-It

VERNONIA, OR — A 24-year-old woman celebrated a big lottery win in her small home town recently when her Oregon Lottery Scratch-It revealed a $100,000 prize.

Ashley Smith said she doesn't typically buy Scratch-Its but took the chance after hearing a co-worker talk about winning $200 recently.

So, after work, Smith swung by the R&S Market in her hometown of Vernonia before heading home to her fiancé. Along with her groceries, Smith spontaneously decided to buy a Scratch-It — and according to Oregon Lottery officials, she's glad she did.

“The only time I really play is during the holidays when I get Scratch-its as gifts,” Smith told Oregon Lottery officials. “I never buy these and then I win $100,000. I mean, I bought it in this small town here, my goodness.”

Smith said she'll use some of the prize for her upcoming wedding and possibly for travel afterward, but that she also plans to invest some for the future.

“It’s life-changing money for me,” she said. “The first thing I did was pay off my student loans. We are going to invest the rest. It will give us a nice cushion.

“We haven’t really travelled anywhere,” Smith continued. “We are exploring and seeing the best deals to go somewhere out of the country.”

The last win in Vernonia came in 2016 when another R&S Market customer won $20,000 on a Scratch-It.

Oregon Lottery officials said Randy and Sharon Parrow, owners of the R&S Market, are happy to see locals winning prizes from lottery games bought at their store.

“We are very excited for the person who won,” they told Oregon Lottery officials. “We are happy it was a person from Vernonia. We always thank everyone who shops at the R&S Market.”

For more information on the Oregon Lottery or its games, visit OregonLottery.org.

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