If Anna Mallory, from Hayden, Idaho, had been playing the televised version of Wheel of Fortune with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, instead of the Scratch Game from the Idaho Lottery, the dialogue between her and Pat might have gone something like this:
Pat: "The category is 'Secret Hiding Place.' Anna, it's your turn.
Anna: "Pat, is there an 'M'?
"There's one 'M'."
Anna: "Pat, is there a 'B'?"
"Yes, there are two Bs."
Ann: "Pat, is there a 'Y'?"
"Only one 'Y'."
Anna: "Pat, is there an 'L'?"
"Yes, there is one L."
Anna: "Pat, I'd like to solve the puzzle. My Bible!"
Anna Mallary purchased a Wheel of Fortune Scratch ticket on Sunday and won $50,000. Much to her surprise.
"I got the money bag symbol and saw the prize, but couldn't believe it. I re-read the rules of the game and thought for sure it was a mistake," explained Anna. "I didn't want to check it at a store because I just knew it couldn't be! But when I did, the clerk told me I'd won a prize they couldn't pay."
That prize was $50,000 and the last one on the game. When asked where she kept her winning ticket until it was time to bring it to Boise and claim it, Anna said, "I hid my ticket in my bible."
Over the years, we at the Idaho Lottery have heard of a lot of interesting places to keep big winning tickets safe before bringing them to our office for payment. The dash board of the truck, the glove box of a car, the sock drawer, the freezer, the Christmas tree, even a portable, fireproof safe. But after 30 years, this is the first time we've heard of keeping it in a personal bible.
Anna plans to use her winnings to support the college choices for her daughters and put some away for her retirement. The winning ticket was purchased from the Appleway Jifi Stop in Coeur d'Alene, at the corner of Appleway and US 95 by the Best Western.