Skaggs employees win the lottery

A group of 24 co-workers at Branson-based Skaggs Regional Medical Center have hit it big, winning $250,000 from the Missouri Lottery after a decade of pooling their money to play the numbers.

The winning lottery ticket was purchased by Marie Houck, who works in Skaggs nutrition services, in early May at a Hollister Casey's station, according to a news release.

"After giving Marie my $2 each week for 10 years, it finally paid off,” Skaggs dietitian Lisa Frazier said in the release.  “Occasionally I would think I should stop throwing away my money, but then I’d think, 'If I stop, that would be the week we would win,' so I stayed with it, and I’m sure glad I did."

The 24 Skaggs employees that contributed to the pool will each net about $7,000, the release said.

“The excitement for me was Marie’s reaction to winning,” said Dorcia Lotz, who also works in Skaggs nutrition services, in the release. “She was so rushed about winning for ‘her people’ that I don’t think she realized that she won, too."[[In-content Ad]]