Raleigh – William Alvey’s weekly tradition of buying a lottery ticket every time he stops for gas paid off on Sunday when a $5 ticket turned into a $100,000 prize.

A resident of Lincolnton, Alvey owns and runs Bill’s Scooters. He purchased his lucky Mega Bucks ticket from Kingsway on North Aspen Street.

“I was in my truck when I first scratched the ticket,” said Alvey. “My first thought was, ‘Oh my God.’ When I knew I had won, I drove straight home to show my wife. She was so excited.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Alvey received a check for $69,251.54.

“We’ll help people and give our 10% to the church,” said Alvey. “We might take some small trips around North Carolina. We’ll buy a new recliner and I’ll add some new chrome to my 1983 Honda Goldwing motorcycle. I’m going to keep playing, too. You’ll be seeing me again.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, three more $100,000 top prizes remain to be claimed in the Mega Bucks game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars 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 $24 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Lincoln County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.