Newest Lottery Hot Spot? Western New York's Chautauqua County!

SCHENECTADY, NY (12/22/2009)(readMedia)-- Western New Yorkers always hear about all those Lottery winners from New York City. They now have some bragging of their own to do. Fifty-nine-year-old Linda Jo Stalker became Chautauqua County's second Lottery millionaire of 2009 when she won the $1,000,000 top prize on the popular Super 9s instant scratch ticket. Is Chautauqua County the new Lottery hot spot in the state?

"I sure hope so," said Stalker. "I heard about Sandy's win and thought, why can't that happen to me?" Stalker is referring to Sandy Olson from Falconer. On November 5th Olson also won $1,000,000 on the Super 9s instant ticket.

"I was out shopping for snacks for our weekly poker night and saw the Super 9s ticket in the bin. Something told me to buy a couple of them and take a chance," said the Cherry Creek resident. "I scratched them in the car and my intuition was right. I saw the word Jackpot and went numb!"

Stalker purchased her winning ticket at the Tuscany Deli & Meats on East Main Street in Fredonia on Saturday, November 28th. She claimed her winnings the following Monday (November 30th) at the Lottery's Buffalo Customer Service Center on Genesee Street.

As with most Lottery instant games, the top prize on the Super 9s instant ticket is awarded as an annuity. Stalker will receive her $1,000,000 prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000 each, netting her $33,015 a year through 2028.

"To be honest it's still all a little unbelievable," said the stay at home mother of four and grandmother of twelve. "I have a few plans for the money, but I can definitely say the kids and grandkids are in for a fabulous Christmas this year!"

Stalker became the 8th Lottery millionaire from Chautauqua County since the Lottery's inception. Other winners to win or share a Lottery prize valued at $1,000,000 or more from the county include: Sandra Olson of Falconer who won $1,000,000 on the Super 9s instant game in November; Gail McChesney of Cassadaga who won $3,000,000 on the Money, Money, Money instant game in June 2008; Rani Laha of Jamestown who won at least $1,000,000 on the Win $1,000 a Week for Life instant game in December 1999; Richard Miller of Sinclairville who won $7,500,000 on Lotto in March 1994; Donald Hart of Fredonia who won $1,000,000 on Lotto in February 1986; Rudolph Romanowski of Ripley who won $1,000,000 on Lotto in January 1986; and Aliceanne Johnson of Jamestown who won $1,000,000 on the Lottery's Weekly Game January 1978.

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, earning more than $36.7 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago. The Lottery contributed nearly $2.54 billion in fiscal year 2008-09 to help support education in New York State, which was over 12 percent of total state education funding to local school districts. The Lottery's ongoing commitment to education also includes the awarding of more than 1,100 Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarships annually to high school students pursuing their higher education in New York State. Since 1999, the Lottery has awarded more than 11,500 scholarships representing a total commitment of almost $50 million.

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