A weekly routine has turned into a $250,000 prize for a Blenheim retiree.
Deborah Newton is taking home the top prize from an instant Crossword ticket.
"I was at home when I played my ticket and discovered it was a winner," Newton said, adding that she's been playing the lottery for nearly 25 years but has never won before.
Newton shared that initially, she didn't realize how much she'd won.
"At first, I thought I'd won $25,000 and was so excited," she said. She added that it was a shock when she took her ticket to the store and scanned it. "I saw the prize amount on the screen and realized I’d actually won $250,000. It was a jaw-dropping moment. I was surprised and very happy."
Newton said her partner was just as surprised by her win as she was. With her winnings, she plans to buy a new vehicle, complete some renovations, and invest for the future.
The winning ticket was purchased at Morning Calm Convenience on Talbot Street in Blenheim.