HERMON — There was no $1 million prize from Publishers Clearing House for Tammy L. Degroat, but she was happy with the $1,000 she was guaranteed.

"That's good, though," she said. "It's not like it's false advertising."

Mrs. Degroat was on a short list of 211 $1,000 winners eligible for a grand prize. Although no one knocked on her door Wednesday to tell her she was the big winner, Mrs. Degroat said she was satisfied.

"It's kind of thrilling because I did get picked from all those people," she said. "I'll keep playing."

Mrs. Degroat isn't the first north country resident to wait to hear from Publishers Clearing House and come up short of the big money.

In 2001, Linda L. House, Morley, won $1,000. Last year, Charles E. O'Shea, Potsdam, also ended up with $1,000.

The biggest north country winner in recent memory was the Rev. Russell H. Champlin, a retired Episcopalian minister from Black River, who won $25,000 in 1990.

The company has awarded nearly $200 million since it began the sweepstakes in 1967.