Bashiru Allison of Apple Valley claimed a $38,915 Northstar Cash jackpot at the Lottery’s headquarters in Roseville on Aug. 27.

The winning ticket had been in his car for almost a month before he discovered that it was a big winner. Allison said that he likes to wait until he has several tickets and then bring them back to the store where he purchased them (Mega Market, located at 8904 Old Cedar Ave. S. in Bloomington) to have them scanned.

“I always thought that one day I’d win something,” Allison said.

Allison recalled what happened when the ticket for the July 29, 2008 drawing was scanned. “He said, ‘We can’t pay this here, you’ll have to take it to the Lottery.’ I couldn’t believe it, I just thought, ‘Wow!’”

Allison’s single-line quick-pick ticket matched all five numbers drawn on July 29, 2008 (11-24-27-29-31) to win the $38,915 jackpot.

A Northstar Cash jackpot ticket worth $28,000 for the drawing on July 16, 2008 (sold in Stearns County) has not yet been claimed. Players have one year from the date of the drawing to claim all prizes.

To play Northstar Cash, players select five numbers from 1 to 31. Matching the five numbers drawn wins the jackpot, which starts at $25,000 and grows until it is won. Players also win by matching 2, 3 or 4 of the numbers drawn.