Luck of the draw

 Angie Steffen

Randolph Times

RANDOLPH — It’s a phrase Pam Polenske uttered often.

Many times, “I am just going to stop and pick up a lottery ticket,’’ is heard from Polenske.

Recently, though, the phrase meant, “I’m going to stop and pick up a pickup.” 

The Cedar County resident won one of seven F-150 trucks from the Nebraska Lottery Truck$ and Buck$ $2 scratch ticket promotion. 

She purchased her ticket at Cardinal Express in Randolph.

The leap year seems to have been lucky for Polenske, who works at the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) office in Stanton, as she won the truck on Wednesday during the last week of February.

“I looked at my scratch ticket and I couldn’t believe it. I put that aside and read the directions on what to do. I have never won anything this big,’’ she said. “I filled out the paper work and called the 800 number. I was just really glad it was won in a small town. It was really nice it was won at Cardinal Express.’’

A Ford dealership in Lincoln was given a three-day notice to fulfill the truck order. She picked up her silver truck on March 5 at Cardinal Express. She said she didn’t have a choice on color, that’s fine, though.

‘’It’s a keeper,’’ she said. “I filled out the paperwork and we took pictures. We went straight to Hartington and got the plates. We went to Yankton, S.D. so there are 100 miles on it. I’ve texted my family about it and they will come to see it this weekend.’’

She and her husband, Keith, have two children, Justin and Morgan.

“My son is a mechanic and so he was excited that it has a large engine,’’ she said.

When her husband heard the news she said, he asked if she was joking. Keith, who has an associates degree in electronics from Northeast Community College, works at Conitech. 

Born in Norfolk, Pam Polenske graduated from Norfolk Public School and entered Wayne State College to achieve a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in chemistry and environmental science. They now live in the Randolph area.