The Daily Herald has an article describing a $1 million windfall for a Wood Dale fireman.

A Wood Dale firefighter recently struck lottery pay dirt when he won $1 million playing Halloween Millionaire Raffle.

Michael Thomson bought the winning raffle ticket on Sept. 28 at WD Tobacco, 355 Georgetown Square, in Wood Dale during a lunch break with a few co-workers, according to Illinois Lottery officials. His victory was announced Wednesday.

“We each bought a ticket,” Thomson said in a statement. “I never thought I would be the lucky one.”

The Palatine resident learned about his good fortune several days after the Nov. 1 drawing because word had gotten out that WD Tobacco had sold a winning ticket.

Thomson, who has been with the Wood Dale Fire Protection [District] since 2002, isn’t expected to quit his job as a firefighter-paramedic, according to lottery officials. After taxes, [he] received a lump sum of $700,000. He said he’s going buy a new house “with a huge backyard” for his dog Ariel, who is a 100-pound English mastiff.

thanks Dan

Tags: Halloween Millionaire Raffle, Wood Dale Fire Protection District, Wood Dale firefighter Michael Thomson, Wood Dale fireman wins lottery