BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô On Saturday morning, long-time Cascade resident Stanley Thurston went to Howdy's Gas & Grub for coffee just like any other morning. He had intentions of cutting firewood that day. And like he does once a week, he picked up a few Idaho Lottery Scratch tickets to play. Shortly after starting to play, Thurston got a big surprise when he uncovered the first $250,000 winner on the game Cash Money Blowout.

"It was the second ticket. The ticket with the big prize on it. I didn't believe it. I started checking it with everyone to make sure I was really seeing what I was really seeing," explained Thurston about discovering his big win. "I called my wife Karen, and she didn't believe me at first. Then I called my boss to let her know I wasn't coming in to work on Monday because I'd won $250,000!"

An employee of the US Forest Service, Thurston does plan to return to his job on Tuesday. He said he plans to invest his winnings and take his wife on a cruise next winter.

"Christmas might even be a little better for everyone in the family, too," he admitted after receiving his check.

This is the largest winning ticket ever sold in the town of Cascade. One top prize remains on the Scratch Game^TM Cash Money Blowout.

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