Bellflower Woman Triples Her Prize on "The Big Spin(R)" Show.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- This week a lucky contestant actually got the opportunity to spin the Big Spin prize wheel twice, thanks to the "TRIPLE" spoke. A total of $492,500 was given away on this week's show. The show aired statewide Saturday, April 21, 2007.

Whatever Margarita Montanez from Bellflower won she said "it would be a blessing," but she never imagined that she would be so blessed that she would get two spins at the Big Spin prize wheel. After outplaying nine other contestants in Aces High her first spin landed on "TRIPLE" and her second spin landed on "$100,000" giving her a prize totaling $300,000! Montanez, a cosmetologist, plans to save for her children's education, help her family and put a down payment on a house.

Two contestants tried their luck at the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine. First up was Esther Tisby from Oakland, who walked away with $75,000. Tisby, a food service worker for the Oakland Unified School District, said, "I'm going to buy myself diamond earrings and travel to Paris." Next up was Steve Bui of San Francisco, he won $70,000! Bui, a real estate agent, plans to travel with his family.

Don Schmalzried from Santa Barbara went straight to the Big Spin wheel after uncovering Spin-Spin-Spin on his Scratchers[R] ticket and won $25,000! Schmalzried, an Albertson's employee, plans to use his winnings to take care of his parents. "After all, they are who really matter to me," he said.

                             Winner's Summary

NAME                               CITY                         AMOUNT
----                               ----                         ------
Margarita Montanez                 Bellflower                $ 300,000
Esther Tisby                       Oakland                   $  75,000
Steve Bui                          San Francisco             $  70,000
Don Schmalzried                    Santa Barbara             $  25,000
Aida Abalos                        Gardena                   $   5,000
Gregory Garza                      Chino                     $   4,000
Deborah Plaud                      Canyon Country            $   2,500
Cheryl Wallace                     San Diego                 $   2,000
Marycruz Fuqua                     Rialto                    $   2,000
David Santos                       Fremont                   $   1,750
Kathy Boland                       Snelling                  $   1,750
Shaun Coulter                      San Jose                  $   1,750
Joann Phillips                     Taft                      $   1,750
                                                       TOTAL $ 492,500

Public education in California receives at least 34 cents of every dollar players spend on Lottery products. The California Lottery contributed $1.28 billion to public education in 2005-06 out of sales of $3.58 billion, the sixth year in a row the Lottery has provided more than $1 billion in supplemental funding for education. Retailers won too, earning over $252 million in compensation last year selling Lottery products. Since the Lottery began in 1985, it has contributed more than $18 billion to California schools.