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Florida's newest lottery millionaire
Florida Lottery: Florida's newest lottery millionaire
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33-year-old Dawna McAlpin doesn't seem phased by all the media attention she's receiving. In fact, she still has a hard time believing she's a millionaire.
"It's still unbelievable. There's nothing you can say to describe it."
Florida Lottery officials presented McAlpin with her lotto winnings Wednesday morning at the Handi Mart Convenience store in Grand Ridge.
McAlpin bought the winning ticket there last week. She"s also the store manager. She says she never thought she would win.
"I think all of us are still in a daze. We're waiting for someone to pinch us and wake us up, tell us it was a dream," says McAlpin.
Dawna matched all 6 winning numbers in Wednesday night's lotto drawing. The jackpot was 15-million dollars, but Dawna opted for a 1-time pay-out of 8-point-6 million.
So far she's been wise with the money, investing most of it for her kids.
"I want to make sure that money's put up for them and protected to where nobody can get it."
"It just does your heart good when you hear the story of a hard working mother working three jobs and a husband working and five children, trying to decide which bills to pay, week to week and month to month" says Glenn Dupree, Florida Lottery Sales Executive.
Dawna isn't planning to quit her job at the Handi Mart.
But she is trying to keep a low profile.
"I'm trying to dodge everybody. The phones ring nonstop, people come in nonstop."
And she does plan to cut back on her hours to spend more time with her kids.
Dawna did splurge on a brand new Denali truck. She says it's the first new car she's ever owned.
WCTV
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13 comments. Last comment 2 months ago by .
Alabama United States Member #10348 January 4, 2005 108 Posts Offline |
| Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:45 pm - IP Logged |
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I dont usually say much here , but this is a blessing . I hope she wll give thanks to God for such a true blessing.
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United States Member #24723 October 21, 2005 615 Posts Offline |
| Posted: August 27, 2009, 12:27 am - IP Logged |
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I dont usually say much here , but this is a blessing . I hope she wll give thanks to God for such a true blessing. Amen! What a joyful relief; a ram in the bush for this family!
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Idaho United States Member #56982 November 21, 2007 3228 Posts Offline |
| Posted: August 27, 2009, 12:43 am - IP Logged |
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Congrats to Mrs. McAlpin on her win! "No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to the top."
ThatScaryChick
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United States United States Member #68752 December 16, 2008 124 Posts Offline |
| Posted: August 27, 2009, 3:33 pm - IP Logged |
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I dont usually say much here , but this is a blessing . I hope she wll give thanks to God for such a true blessing. 
Congrats.....Thats a huge blessing...Thanks be to GOD at all times.... "Wait eagerly for the Lord, and keep to the way; God wil raise you to possess the land; you will gloat when the wicked are cut off".
Psalms 37:34
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North Carolina United States Member #65081 September 1, 2008 70 Posts Offline |
| Posted: August 27, 2009, 4:10 pm - IP Logged |
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If I lived there, I'd want to buy a ticket from her!
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Massachusetts United States Member #37842 April 14, 2006 126 Posts Offline |
| Posted: August 27, 2009, 4:46 pm - IP Logged |
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I dont know why but everytime a store employee wins big in their own store I smell a rat and I
hate it because I am permeating distrust in society. I blame it on personal weaknesses of jealousy and silliness :)
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Oath Keeper East Tennessee United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 285 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 6, 2009, 1:07 pm - IP Logged |
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I am happy for the lady winning the big one. All the best to her but I'm a little confused about one thing.
Why in the world would someone want to keep working in a convenient store when they have 8.6 million in the bank? I think convenient stores are robbed on the average of something like one every 15 minutes or so in this country. Why would a multi-millionaire even risk that? Then adding the risk of being kidnapped for ransom, it just doesn't add up for me.
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Center of New York State United States Member #55518 September 8, 2007 2386 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 6, 2009, 1:57 pm - IP Logged |
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I am happy for the lady winning the big one. All the best to her but I'm a little confused about one thing.
Why in the world would someone want to keep working in a convenient store when they have 8.6 million in the bank? I think convenient stores are robbed on the average of something like one every 15 minutes or so in this country. Why would a multi-millionaire even risk that? Then adding the risk of being kidnapped for ransom, it just doesn't add up for me. Good point. Also let someone else who NEEDS the job have it. Money won is twice as good as money earned!
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nassau Bahamas Member #74736 May 5, 2009 35 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 7, 2009, 3:59 pm - IP Logged |
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Ms McAlpine somebody was watching over you and your family all i can say God dont deal with the
gambling business, but he knows all things and he is always on time - you go girl !!
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United States Member #61017 April 21, 2008 371 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 8, 2009, 10:50 pm - IP Logged |
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I am happy for the lady winning the big one. All the best to her but I'm a little confused about one thing.
Why in the world would someone want to keep working in a convenient store when they have 8.6 million in the bank? I think convenient stores are robbed on the average of something like one every 15 minutes or so in this country. Why would a multi-millionaire even risk that? Then adding the risk of being kidnapped for ransom, it just doesn't add up for me. ESPECIALLY AFTER GIVING AN INTERVIEW!! i'm happy for her and all but I would be worried someone would take my child for ransom. If one knows where you work it would not be hard to follow her home and study her day to day activities. I sure hope she doesnt' turn into a lottery tragedy!
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United States Member #72957 March 18, 2009 60 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 27, 2009, 1:31 am - IP Logged |
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I dont know why but everytime a store employee wins big in their own store I smell a rat and I
hate it because I am permeating distrust in society. I blame it on personal weaknesses of jealousy and silliness :) Apparently, I tend to think the same way. Though I quickly cease those thoughts! I've noticed, through the years, that several quick-type mart employees have won big either first or second place lottery earnings. I presume this is because they are around lottery winning mindsets from lottery ticket buyers for 8-hours a day -- and a lot of this seeps into their nonconsciousness, causing themself to win. With these frequent lottery winning thoughts floating winning energy around their nonconsciousness, it's understandable that many of these employees become lottery players. Only out of fear of public reaction to their win, these workers buy at a different place than their employment.
However, some winners think that if they are an employee of an establishment who took the risks involved in hiring them -- and they've also learned to respect that establishment's owners and ethics -- that employee will buy their tickets at their place of employment; knowing that if the ticket that they buy wins the jackpot then the establishment's owners whom they value also get a well earned financial reward for selling the ticket. It's essentially Law of Reciprocation gone well.
 
I have my lottery ticket, am grateful, and am ready to claim my sole-jackpot-win at the lottery headquarters ... which will provide me with rapid financial independance!
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New Member  Illinois United States Member #80904 September 25, 2009 30 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 27, 2009, 4:31 am - IP Logged |
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ESPECIALLY AFTER GIVING AN INTERVIEW!! i'm happy for her and all but I would be worried someone would take my child for ransom. If one knows where you work it would not be hard to follow her home and study her day to day activities. I sure hope she doesnt' turn into a lottery tragedy! So people knows her full name, face, family, work, etc etc. And she still works at the store? why?
They can take loved ones for random and then just kill them or attack her and get money. Or out of jealousy, resentment, crazy thoughts, they can threat, blackmail, cheat her out of money. Or "pranks" like putting letter bombs in her mailbox, trash the place, sending viruses. LOTS of crazies in the world.
you think they wouldn't recognize her or gather up info, heck the reporter interviewed her could be the one...
may she be a winner and not lottery loser
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North Carolina United States Member #65081 September 1, 2008 70 Posts Offline |
| Posted: September 28, 2009, 10:10 am - IP Logged |
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She did say most of it was invested and could not be touched, hence, trying to cut down on potential kidnappings.
I think because her life is now upside-down, that she needs some familiarity around her to keep her stable. I predict she won't be working there for longer than a month, once everything finally hits her. "Don't be a schmuck, always take the cash." -Coin Toss
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