RALEIGH – Heather Raimo, an accountant from Pineola, plans to use the $150,000 top prize she won on her MONOPOLY MILLIONAIRES’ CLUB™ ticket to pay bills, save for the future and maybe take a vacation.

Raimo purchased the lucky $5 ticket at the Price Point Convenience Store on Mitchell Avenue in Linville on Tuesday.

“I was at home when I scratched the ticket,” Raimo said. “I had to just stare at it for a while because it didn’t seem real. It still doesn’t, really. It’s very exciting and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

After state and federal withholdings, Raimo collected a check worth $103,876. As of Thursday morning, one $150,000 top prize remains to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.8 billion for the state. 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, for school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how $6 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in Avery County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.