RALEIGH – Though the Greene County town of Walstonburg may only be home to 219 people, it can now boast a $1 million lottery winner. Tim Mokus, a commercial glass worker, is the first player to claim the top prize in the lottery’s new $1,000 Mayhem game.

Mokus learned of his big win on Wednesday while sitting in his car outside the Saratoga Friendly Mart on Main Street in Saratoga.

“I was on the way to my daughter’s softball game when I stopped in for a drink and a couple lottery tickets,” Mokus said. “As soon as I saw what we had won I ran right inside to ask the clerk to check the ticket. It was really tough to believe it was real. And as you can imagine, it was hard to concentrate on the softball game with a million dollar ticket in my pocket.”

A $1 million prize in the game can be claimed in 20 annuity payments of $50,000, or a one-time payment of $600,000. Mokus chose the lump sum, worth $415,503 after required state and federal withholdings. He plans to use the winnings to travel, send his younger daughter to college, help pay for his older daughter’s wedding and save for his grandchild.

“This is life-changing for me,” Mokus said as he collected his winnings. “It’s going to make things so much easier. It’s a dream come true.”

The $1,000 Mayhem game went on sale May 5 with four top prizes of $1 million. As of Thursday afternoon, three top prizes and many other prizes remain to be claimed in the $10 game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. 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 $8 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Greene County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.