I logged into my Facebook account to take a break from writing my Annual Report stories Wednesday night, only to discover that my nephew won $10,000 on a $5 lottery ticket. Boy, the things you have to find out on Facebook these days!!

Andrew bought three Funky Fives scratch-off lottery tickets Tuesday night at the Travel Plaza in Worthington. The first was a $10,000 winner, the second was a $10 winner and the third was a $5 winner.

The funny thing was, Andrew didn’t realize he’d won the $10,000 right away. I called him tonight to get the story. (Hey, I’m a reporter … that’s what I do!)

So, here’s Andrew’s story:

"I was just out there chillin’ and I said, ‘I’ll play some lottery tickets.’"

After winning $15 on Texas Hold’em tickets, he reinvested his winnings by buying three Funky Fives tickets.

Once they had been scratched, Andrew "put the ticket through the machine and I thought the machine was broken because it said, ‘claim at the ticket office.’" He then showed the ticket to the store clerk, who started yelling, "No way, no way."

Andrew had to go and sit down … he had to let it sink in. First he called his girlfriend, and then he called his brother. He needed Jake to work his shift at New Dawn so he could drive up to Marshall to claim his prize.

Jake said no … until Andrew said he’d make the final payments on Jake’s car. He then had to explain why.

After taxes, Andrew collected $6,775 from the lottery ticket office. He wanted a big cardboard check like the ones awarded in the Publisher’s Clearing House commercials, but the lady at the lottery office didn’t have one.

Instead, he got a check that was about the width of his shoulders, he said.

"She took my picture and everything!" Andrew said, promising to show me the Polaroid the next time I see him.

The first thing he did when he got back to Worthington was buy a PlayStation 3.

"I wanted one for a long time," he said.

The rest will likely be used to help pay for college.