Kenneth Sutton Jr. of Hayesville will get a new truck for Christmas thanks to a $1 million lottery win.

“I’ve been having some issues with mine,” Sutton said. “I’m looking forward to getting a new one.”

The handyman bought the $10 Holiday Millions ticket at the Big D on U.S. 64 in Hayesville.

When he realized he won, he was surprised at how calm he was.

“I just stood there,” Sutton said. “The clerk asked me if I had won $500, I said, ‘No, I just won $1 million.’”

He claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Lambert had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the annuity and, after federal and state tax withholdings, received his first payment of $34,628. He’ll continue getting payments of $50,000 every year for the next 19 years.

Holiday Millions launched in November with three top prizes of $1 million. One $1 million prize remains.

Ticket sales from games like Holiday Millions made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million dollars for the state last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Clay County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.