It was gloomy and rainy outside, and Gloria Wagner didn’t feel like getting in her car to drive.

Despite not wanting to drive in the rain, Wagner can thank her lucky stars she went against her initial instinct.

Wagner joined the other optimists who gathered Wednesday evening at the Lehighton Outdoor Center in search of a big payday.

A look of utter disbelief could be seen on Wagner’s face once her name was revealed as the winner of the $1,000 grand prize in the seventh annual Times News Bingo contest grand prize party.

“I never won anything,” Wagner murmured after her name was called as the grand prize winner. “I think I’m going to faint.”

Wagner, of Walnutport, can thank her grandchildren from Lansdale for the advice as she opted to participate in the contest for the first time.

“They saw it and they said, ‘Granny, let’s do this,” she said. “My (late) husband Charles wouldn’t believe this; we never won anything.”

Several minutes after her name was called, the shock hadn’t appeared to have fully worn off for Wagner.

“I still cannot believe it,” said Wagner, a retired nurse for 30 years at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.

Wagner didn’t hesitate when asked what she planned to do with her new winnings.

“I’m going to put it in the bank because the big property taxes are coming,” she said. “This will help a lot.”

And to think that Wagner almost decided against making the trek.

“I thought, ‘I don’t even want to drive in the rain,” she said.

Wagner was among 50 finalists from all of the 886 completed cards that were received, which was 100 more than last year.

The finalists received invitations for the grand party meeting.

Jennifer Benninger, advertising director, said the contest began on Sept. 7 with the bingo card inserted into the newspaper, as well as the first bingo number advertisement.

A bingo number ad was in the TN every day up through Nov. 29.

Because this is a coverall bingo game, all the numbers on the card had to be filled out and received by 4 p.m. Dec. 6 in order to qualify.

The finalists were then picked on Dec. 9.

“We are happy to be able to provide our readers with this Bingo game in the fall every year, and also to be able to award a $1,000 cash prize right before the holiday,” Benninger said. “Thank you to our sponsors and readers for supporting local news.”

Along with main sponsor and grand prize party host the Lehighton Outdoor Center, Benninger also thanked the other sponsors of the contest: Hager Furniture; Mrs. Bush’s Personal Care Homes; Rentschler Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chevrolet; Shawn Kresge Services; and RA Ahner Furniture & Appliances.

“They make this bingo possible,” Benninger said.