Lottery Announces Fifth Wheel Of Fortune© Winner

May 28, 2010

The fifth $10,000 winner from the West Virginia Lottery’s last monthly Wheel of Fortune© drawings was Paul Russell of Buckhannon, according to Lottery Director John Musgrave.

A professional glass cutter, who won $2,000 two years ago from one of the Lottery’s instant games, Russell said the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. “I’ll turn 45 next week, so this will be the biggest birthday gift I’ve ever gotten and without a doubt the one that surprised me the most.”

Russell said he plans to pay off half his bills and have a little birthday party. “I’m going to take everybody at work out for breakfast next week; that’ll be a great time for all of us.”

Held today in Charleston, the drawing was one of a series of monthly events that lottery officials announced in January to help celebrate the agency’s 24th Anniversary. The promotion offered players five monthly $10,000 prizes, a $250,000 grand prize, and two trips to Hollywood for Wheel of Fortune© auditions.

In addition, a grand prize drawing is slated for June 25 in which entries will be drawn for a $250,000 cash prize and two trip packages to Hollywood for Wheel of Fortune© auditions. Excluding the monthly $10,000 winning entries, all those that have been received will be included in the grand prize drawing. The deadline for receiving additional entries mailed to the Lottery for the grand prize drawing is June 24.

Previous $10,000 monthly winners include Bob Bennett of Hurricane, Debra Hull of Buckhannon, David Hunley of Hurricane and Taew Smith of Lorado.