Cambridge resident Donyere Bowens celebrates his $50,000 Amazing 8’s win. |
$50,000 Amazing 8’s Scratch-off Saved from Trash
If not for a sudden desire for a cold cut sub, Donyere Bowens of Cambridge might never have stopped in at a Lottery retailer for lunch and a scratch-off ticket. And, if not for an attentive cashier who stopped him from throwing that ticket away, he might never have made it to Lottery headquarters to claim his $50,000 prize.
Donyere, an unemployed mechanic, decided to get a $5 Amazing 8’s instant ticket while he waited for his sandwich. “I’ve had pretty good luck with $5 tickets in the past,” he told officials. “I scratched my game and thought I’d struck out. I turned to look for a trashcan when the guy behind the counter stopped me.” A closer examination revealed the $50,000 win. “When he told me it was a big winner I was sure he was wrong. I looked closer and saw that it was good for $50,000 – total shock, I could not believe it.”
Mr. Bowens considers the timing of his Amazing 8’s win a blessing. “Being out of work is tough. This will make life a little easier. Most importantly, I’ll be able to give my wife and kids the Christmas they deserve.” The lucky store with the fortune-saving staff is U-5 Foods, 3850 Smithville Road in Federalsburg.