Prize Patrol comes calling for Monroe resident

Henrietta Spoelstra of Monroe got a big surprise on her front doorstep Monday morning. She was expecting a delivery of flowers from Hendrickson’s Greenhouse in Newton. She got the flowers, but she also received a check for $10,000 from the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol.

“I just can’t believe I won,” Spoelstra said Monday morning.

Spoelstra had entered the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes several weeks ago but never thought she would be lucky enough to win. Spoelstra had retired last April due to health reasons, so she said the check will come in handy.

“I’m going to pay some bills, maybe take a little vacation,” she said, adding that she will probably spend some on her two grandchildren.

“Prize Patrol Deputies” Sally Strobridge and Carol Wendling said they were one of 30 teams handing out 101 $10,000 “reality checks” this week.

“We call them reality checks so people realize the sweepstakes are real,” Wendling said.

She added that Spoelstra was still eligible to win one of the much bigger Publishers Clearing House multi-million dollar giveaways. Consumers can enter by responding to company mailings or by going online to the company's Web site, www.pch.com.