Junction City Resident Claims $10,000 Early Bird Prize

Linda Pianka and her husband Walter have faithfully played the Kansas Lottery's Holiday Millionaire Raffle game every fall since the game began in 2009.  This year, the Junction City residents purchased their tickets early, so they would be eligible for the Holiday Millionaire Raffle Early Bird drawings and it's paid off!  Today, Linda Pianka claimed a $10,000 cash prize from the October 28 Early Bird drawing!  Her winning raffle number was 068323.

"Every year, we buy tickets here and there until the game sells out," said Pianka.  "We keep trying every year to win and it finally happened.  Monday morning, I was walking on my tread climber when my husband came downstairs with his laptop.  He set the laptop down and asked me to come take a look.  He had the winning raffle numbers on the screen and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  We had actually won $10,000 in Sunday's Early Bird drawing."

Winning a large prize playing Kansas Lottery games is nothing new for Pianka.  In 2003, the Junction City resident won $25,000 playing Powerball with the Power Play option.

"My mother always said I was lucky," said Pianka.  

Pianka and her husband, who have been married 18 years, are taking a trip to Walt Disney World & Resort® in Florida next week.

"Having a little extra spending money for our trip will be nice," said Pianka.  "We're also planning a trip to Jamaica and St. Lucia next year, so we'll save some of our winnings for that trip."

The winning ticket was purchased at Dillons 44, located at 618 W. 6th St. in Junction City.