What a Display!

It was a year ago that I first met George Kozak to pick up a collection of Ohio Lottery tickets that he started in 1974. There were more than 7,000 tickets in the collection, and George wanted the Ohio Lottery to have them. We took all nine binders that he had so carefully catalogued over the years and turned them into a display in the lobby of the lottery central offices. Friday, George and his daughter got to see the display for the first time.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but this far exceeds my expectations. This is wonderful to see all of Dad’s work displayed,” Mary Kalenits said.

Director Dennis Berg and a number of Lottery staffers were there to greet George when he arrived. They wanted to say thank you and get a glimpse of the 89-year-old who spent more than 30 years collecting tickets. George even shared a few stories about some of the other items he likes to collect.

George joked that he doesn’t play anymore, but on the way out he stopped and picked up five dollars worth of instants. The first $1 ticket he scratched was a $4 winner! That one, he said, wouldn’t be going into a collection.

Follow the link to see some of the presentation and hear from George.

Cashing In!

Donald McDevitt, or Lee to his friends, was ready to celebrate his mom’s birthday with their family and friends, but he ended up getting the biggest surprise of the night. The Ohio Lottery’s Top Prize Drawing crew was waiting when Lee arrived, and they had a giant check with his name on it.

Lee won $5,500 and entry into the top prize drawing on the Cash In ticket he purchased at Mickey mart in Wellington. He really cashed in with the top prize drawing by winning the $150,000 top prize!

Lee’s mom and dad helped set up the surprise at their home in Wellington. Lee’s dad took him out shopping for quad runners while the Top Prize Drawing crew snuck in to set up the surprise!

Lee plans to donate money to his church, help out his family and possibly buy the quad runner that he and his Dad looked at earlier that day. Congratulations, Lee!

Thistledown Racino Open for Business

It was busy Tuesday as the VLTs got going at ThistleDown Racino in North Randall. People from all across Northeast Ohio stopped to take a look at the new facility complete with several dining options, live entertainment, horse racing and 1,100 video lottery terminals! The fun gets even better when the live racing season gets underway next Friday. Here are some photos of the big opening day!

Ohio Lottery retailer and beauty queen knows embracing opportunities builds success

Passion and focus have helped Ohio Lottery retailer DeAnna Holliday establish a name for herself.  The small business owner, member of the local school board, and mother of three has another title that’s even rarer still. She’s the reigning Mrs. Ohio.

DeAnna’s crowning as Mrs. Ohio was big news for the Coal Grove community that she and her family call home.  The Lawrence County village is at the southern tip of the state, bordering Ironton and across the Ohio River from Ashland, KY, with a population of about 2,160.  She is grateful for the community’s support.

She competed in pageants as a teen and support from a former Mrs. Ohio encouraged her to enter the pageant world again.  She says that preparing for the competition helped her reach a personal best.

A former cell phone company executive, she took another leap of faith leaving the corporate world to go into business with her husband Shawn.  Owners of a local convenience store and licensed as an Ohio Lottery retailer since November 2000, her family’s convenience store employs eight, including two fulltime employees.  During the past six years, Lottery sales have more than doubled — and as ticket sales and average ticket purchases have grown, so have the winners. The store has seen both $5,000 and $20,000 winners.

“In a small community, there’s a lot of celebration (for big winners),” she says. “I never thought we’d have that type of winner to celebrate.”

For six years, she’s also been a member of the Dawson-Bryant Local School District school board. She donates her school board salary to fund a college scholarship for a local high school senior interested in business management.

“I want to be part of the solution, not the person who can detail every single problem,” she says. “I like to get my hands dirty and make a difference.  I want this community to be a good place to live.”

2012 Mrs. Ohio, DeAnna Holliday. Photo credit: Rick Martinez, Studio RM

Holliday’s Quick Stop: offering great service and community pride. Left to right: employees Kelli, owner DeAnna Holliday, Mandy and Melissa.

Opening is just hours away at ThistleDown Racino!

In just six hours ThistleDown Racino will open its doors to the public! It will be an exciting day as people stream through the doors to break in the more than 1,100 VLTs. Take a look at the pictures to see what gaming fun awaits!

Thistledown Racino Opening April 9!

The Video Lottery Terminals at ThistleDown Racino got a workout this week during a control demonstration, and next Tuesday the games will be open to the public!

ThistleDown has been around since 1925, but it has undergone an $88 million renovation that created a 57,000 sq. ft. gaming space with dining options and entertainment space. The gaming floor has 1,100 VLTs. Patrons will get the chance to walk through the doors of the newly renovated space on April 9, 2013 at 5 p.m. when ThistleDown Racino celebrates its grand opening. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will kick off the festivities with a concert on opening night.

ThistleDown’s history is in horse racing, and simulcast racing is still available year round. The horse racing season kicks off April 19 and runs through November at Thistledown’s one-mile oval racetrack.

ThistleDown Racino will be the second to open under the VLT program overseen by the Ohio Lottery. Scioto Downs in Columbus opened last June.

Follow the link to learn more about ThistleDown Racino! http://www.caesars.com/thistledown/

What Happened During the Drawing?

When you’re doing live TV, anything can happen. Last night it did. Karen Kawolics was doing the live Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 drawings when suddenly at the end she stopped talking and seemed to sway a little when one of the crew members stepped in and walked her off camera. Social media lit up right away with comments of concern for Karen’s health, so I wanted to update everyone and let you know that Karen is a little under the weather but she’s feeling better!

Karen is home today recovering from the flu. She got through the Rolling Cash 5 drawing which is taped first for the web. Just before the live drawing at 7:30 she started feeling dizzy and sweaty, but she pushed through!

“I think it was a combination of nerves and feeling like I might get sick. I am glad and surprised I read the numbers correctly. By the time I got to the Pick 5 I felt like I might faint and completely zoned out. I don’t even remember Ryan (one of the crew members) coming to get me,” she said.

Karen says everyone was kind to her after the incident, and she is thankful to them and all of the viewers who were worried about her.

“I truly appreciate all the concern from the public. It’s nice to live in a state with so many good and caring people! I want everyone to know that I am completely fine. I just have a flu bug,” Karen said.

Get well soon, Karen!