RALEIGH – Peter Bullock, a resident of Manson in Warren County, plans to use the $150,000 he won playing the N.C. Education Lottery’s $150 Grand game to spend as needed and maybe purchase a new lawnmower.

Bullock made his lucky purchase at Nana’s Mart on N.C. 1 South in Norlina. He said the most he had won playing the lottery before was $400.

After taxes, Bullock received a check for $102,001. As of Tuesday afternoon, two more $150,000 top prizes remain to be claimed in the game.

From March 30, 2006 through June 30, 2011, Warren County players won more than $7 million in prizes and local retailers earned more than $1 million in commissions on ticket sales.

During the same time frame, Warren County education programs received more than $3.6 million in lottery funds. By law, these funds benefit specific programs. More than $972,000 paid for 20 teacher salaries in grades K-3; more than $1 million provided 287 prekindergarten opportunities for at-risk four year olds; and more than $225,000 went to 217 need-based college scholarships. Warren County officials decided how to utilize more than $1.3 million in school construction funds provided by the lottery.

To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2.1 billion for these initiatives statewide.