LINCOLN WOMAN ONE OF FIVE
GASTON POWERBALL WINNERS

By Jon Mayhew

CROUSE -- A Crouse resident is one of five deputies who work at the
Gaston County Jail to share $1 million in Powerball winnings.

The ticket -- purchased for $2 -- was sold Friday at the TAS Drug Store on
West Church Street in Cherryville.

Ray Costner of Lincoln County confirmed his wife, Sgt. Fay Costner, was
the person who bought the ticket on behalf of the group. Sgt. Costner is
one of the winners.

Mr. Costner said his wife is "very excited."

"She called the sheriff and told him," said Costner. "She said 'we hit the
million dollars, but we'll all be at work tomorrow.''”

Costner said the group of co-workers had been buying lottery tickets
together for about a year. They've pitched in $20 each about once a
month.

Costner said his wife and the other four winners went to Raleigh on
Wednesday to pick up their prize. Sgt. Costner found out she won Sunday
before church.

So what will the Costners do with the money? Pay off their bills.

He called the winning "a blessing."

"It's not enough to quit work," said Costner..