Clinton County woman wins $500K lottery jackpot after convincing fiance to buy tickets

Melissa Cramer wins $500,000 during camping trip

LANSING, Mich. – An annual camping trip made a Clinton County woman rich when she won $500,000 playing the Michigan Lottery’s Lucky Streak game.

Melissa Cramer, 46, of Laingsburg, won the prize with a ticket bought at the Rivertown E-Z Mart, located at 912 South Main Street in Cheboygan.

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"My fiance had left our campsite to pick up a few things, so I sent him a text and asked him to buy me some instant tickets," Cramer said. "He wrote me back and said he wasn’t going to because I always lose when he buys tickets for me.

"I sent him a text back that said 'I will this time!' So he stopped and bought me a few tickets."

Cramer found the tickets laying on the counter of their camper later that evening and scratched them off while everyone else was outside.

"When I scratched the ticket off, I thought I had done something wrong," Cramer said. "I called for my friend to come into the camper. When she saw what I'd won, we both started screaming and jumping up and down. My fiance, Mark, came running inside to make sure we were OK.

"I've kept the ticket close by ever since winning. It was under my pillow while I slept and in my waterproof phone case when we were on the boat."

Cramer visited Lottery headquarters Thursday to claim her prize. With her winnings, she plans to buy a new vehicle and then save the remainder.

"I've always wondered if people really win the Lottery," Cramer said. "Now I know they do."


About the Author:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.