Raffle tickets on sale

The North Idaho College Foundation's Really BIG Raffle will kick off ticket sales this week as regional outlets begin selling tickets for the drawing to win a brand new $250,000 home in Coeur d'Alene.

This year marks the 18th year of NIC's largest annual fundraiser, which is a collaboration between volunteers, sponsors, community supporters and NIC's carpentry students, who utilize the construction of the house as a working laboratory for the carpentry program.

Only 5,000 raffle tickets will be sold prior to the July 13 drawing. Tickets are $100 each. In addition to the home, other major prizes include a $20,000 car, a $10,000 boat, a $3,500 vacation package and a $2,000 shopping spree, for which winners can purchase a prize of their choice.

This year's home is a large four-bedroom, three-bathroom house with more than 2,300 square feet of living area. The plan includes a vaulted living room with fireplace, an open kitchen with granite counters, master suite with jetted tub and a three-car tandem garage. The home will be constructed to ENERGY STAR requirements, which offers substantially reduced energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The home is under construction at 6619 Madellaine Drive in Coeur d'Alene Place. This Greenstone Homes neighborhood offers walking paths, green space and parks.

Tickets can be purchased at a variety of North Idaho outlets including Super 1 Foods, Trading Company Stores in Post Falls, Stein's Family Foods, Stock Building Supply, Lake City Ford, the NIC Workforce Training Center and the NIC Foundation Office. Idaho residents can also order by phone or online.

Information: NIC Foundation at (208) 769-3271 or www.nic.edu/rbr.