November 16, 2009 -- The wind and rain from Tropical Storm Ida made for a blustery “Friday the 13th,” but Arthur Wargo, a retired postal worker from Norwalk, certainly had no qualms about driving in the bad weather. “I worked for the postal service for 35 years,” said Wargo with a sheepish grin and a laugh to indicate no further explanation was needed.

While on his way to his brother’s house for dinner last Friday, Wargo stopped at County Mall Variety on Westport Avenue in Norwalk, to purchase a Classic Lotto ticket for that night’s drawing. Noticing there were ten $2,000,000 top prizes in the instant game, Big Money, he also decided to take a chance and purchase that $20 ticket.

Wargo quickly realized that a matching pair of “17’s” on his ticket made it a winner, but let the lottery retailer scan the ticket to reveal his prize. “He came around the counter and gave me a big hug and told me, ‘You won $2,000,000,’” Wargo told lottery officials. “It was a major shock. You always hear about other people winning; this time it turned out to be me.”

Big Money’s top prize is payable as a 20-year annuity or as a one-time cash lump-sum equivalent. Wargo, the first top prize winner in the Big Money game, chose to take the lump sum payment and received a CT Lottery prize check for $792,414 (the value after taxes). “I’ll pay off my mortgage and then take some time to figure out the rest,” said Wargo.

For selling Wargo the top prize winning ticket, County Mall Variety will receive a $20,000 bonus check from the CT Lottery.