A Halloween tradition of selling pumpkins led to Roy Story of Hertford landing the first $150,000 prize in a new lottery game.

“I raise a few pumpkins every year and sell them,” Story said. “Someone game me $10 for a pumpkin and I used that to buy the ticket.”

Story purchased his lucky $5 Xtreme Cashword ticket Monday morning from Sun Farms on U.S. 17 South in Elizabeth City.

“I love to play the crosswords,” Story said. “I play them all.”

Story said at first, he didn’t realize how much he won.

“I didn’t have my glasses on,” he laughed. “I thought it won $1,000.”

He collected his prize at lottery headquarters Monday and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $107,251.

Story plans to use his winnings to buy a truck.

The Xtreme Cashword game debuted this month with six $150,000 top prizes. Five $150,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

Perquimans County received a $28.4 million grant, using money raised by the lottery, to help build a new school. For details on other ways Perquimans County education programs benefit from lottery funds, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.