Instead of counting words, Craig Ralston’s son may need to help his father count money.
Ralston, 56, who lives in Emporia, won $20,000 one of the five $2 Bonus Crossword tickets he bought Thursday night at the Kwik Shop, 105 West 12th Ave.
He initially thought he had gotten nine words, worth $2,000. He had his son check the ticket. His son counted ten words, for a $20,000 prize.
“At about 10 p.m., I took the ticket to a friend’s house,” Ralston said. “I woke him up and asked him to count the words. He counted ten words, and then told me, in so many words, to get out, so he could get back to sleep.” It was the second time that Ralston had asked his friend to count words on a ticket.
Six or seven years ago, Ralston won $20,000 on a Bonus Crossword scratch ticket bought at the same store. After scratching the ticket, he took it to the same friend’s house, woke him up, and asked him to check that ticket. He got a similar response.
Ralston has six children and is self employed. He usually buys $5, $10, and $20 scratch tickets, and once a week buys a $5 all game combo, consisting of $1 Powerball, $1 Super Kansas Cash, $1 Pick 3, a 7-Spot Keno, and a $1 2by2. All are Quick Picks. He did note that the Crossword game has “been the best” to him.
He plans to use his money to pay some bills, and may also take a vacation to Reno or Tahoe.
Ralston has a theory about winning money in the Lottery games:
“You can’t catch a fish unless your line’s in the water.”