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Donald Bauer of Rocky Mount played his crossword-themed lottery ticket over dinner and found 10 words that spelled out a $150,000 prize, according to a press release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“I was at McDonalds, eating a burger before I went to work,” he said. “I almost choked on it. I couldn’t believe it. It was cool.”

Bauer purchased his winning $5 Extreme Cashword ticket from Jeffries Road Food Mart on Jeffries Road in Rocky Mount.

“I love the crosswords,” he said. “I’ve been playing them for a long time.”

Bauer claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $106,126.

“I was thinking about getting a new truck — a Chevrolet,” said Bauer. “And I’m going to try to invest.”

Bauer won the last $150,000 top prize, so the lottery will begin steps to end the game.

For details on how funds raised by the lottery made an impact in North Carolina last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.

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