Powerball mania is sweeping through Boise as the jackpot climbs higher and higher.

Employees at On the Fly convenience store on West State Street reported brisk sales that likley will increase as Wednesday night’s drawing gets closer.

The store had done about $1,800 in lottery sales as of Tuesday evening and expects sales to hit $7,000, said manager Jim Thiffault, 33.

“Our average day when the jackpot isn’t that big is between $300 and $500,” Thiffault said Tuesday. “Tomorrow’s going to be nuts.”

Cheri Stinson, 47, said she had never played the lottery before buying a ticket Tuesday. She said she saw friends posting photos of their tickets to Facebook and figured, why not?

Christina Luther, 40, said she bought a Powerball ticket for the first time in about a year. She said she hopes to open a drug rehabilitation center in Boise to help heroin addicts if she wins the jackpot.

John Brown, 88, bought three tickets at the Albertsons grocery store near State Street and Veterans Memorial Parkway. If lightning strikes and he wins, he plans to donate to charity.

“There’s always a hope,” Brown said.