RALEIGH – Floyd Johnson of Elizabeth City plans to use the $100,000 he won playing the Crossword 10X game to pay bills and add a bit more joy to his holiday season.

Johnson scratched off the lucky $5 ticket on Friday after purchasing it at the Murphy USA on Tanglewood Parkway in Elizabeth City.

“This money is really going to help my family have a nice Christmas,” Johnson said. “And we can go on a vacation and pay off my car. This feels really good.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Johnson received a check for $69,201. As of Monday afternoon, two more $100,000 top prizes remain to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.5 billion for the state. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how more than $11.3 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Pasquotank County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.