This time, all 6 matched

By CASEY CORA, Times Staff Writer
Published November 3, 2007

TAMPA - Perhaps in disbelief, Arleen Schwemmer checked the Florida Lottery Web site. Then she called the state's lottery hotline, just to double-check.

Yep. She hit it.

Again.

Schwemmer and Margaret Rodriguez were among the very first winners of the Florida Lotto soon after it started in April 1988. They won $15,000 by matching five out of six numbers.

This time, Schwemmer, 62, and Rodriguez, 67, hit the Sept. 22 drawing for $6-million, lottery officials said.

They watched the drawing live on TV that night. They hired accountants and lawyers, and opted for a lump sum payment of $3,553,116.

So what do Schwemmer, a retired Progress Energy technician, and Rodriguez, a retired Time magazine executive, plan on doing with the money? Buying a new home and a three-wheel motorcycle, and traveling.

They were nowhere to be found Friday. Their neighbors on a Town 'N Country cul-de-sac hadn't seen them for a week.

They bought the winning ticket at a Hess Express at 6251 W Waters Ave. The station gets a $15,000 bonus for selling it.

[Last modified November 2, 2007, 22:43:30]