Media-ready jpg image of Ashley Cravens

Microsoft Word document of news release

DATE: June 19, 2008
CONTACT: Sally Lunsford (785) 296-5708, sally.lunsford@kslottery.net

Happy Manhattan Resident Wins $10,000 Lottery Prize

TOPEKA, KAN. – Given the tornado damage in Manhattan last week, it’s nice to hear of some good news coming out of the Little Apple.

Ashley Cravens, 27, of Manhattan carried her good news to Lottery headquarters this week, claiming a $10,000 prize on a $1 BlackJack instant scratch ticket.

“I put it in my wallet and guarded it with my life until I could get here,” Cravens told the Lottery.

Cravens’ lucky ticket was one of 12 scratch tickets she purchased Monday night right before she went to her nephew’s ball game. Just to make sure she really did have a $10,000 winner, she asked some friends at the game to take a look at the ticket. They also thought it was a winner, so she took it to a nearby lottery retailer to have the store verify it.

“After we left the store I got into the car and just started screaming,” said the happy winner. Cravens, who is a property manager and the mother of an eight-year-old daughter, says she and her fiancé will use the prize money for their upcoming wedding and a vacation. She also plans to save some of it.

Cravens purchased her ticket at Shop Quik 11, located at 3108 Anderson Avenue in Manhattan.