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January 5, 2011 in City, Idaho
Ephrata lottery winner comes forward
Kevin Anderson of Melba won a $250,000 prize in the MegaMillions lottery drawing, by matching all five numbers but not the additional “mega-ball.” Here, he laughs after receiving his check at the Idaho Lottery office in Boise. Two other winners hit the big prize - $190 million each - one in Post Falls, and one in Ephrata, Wash. At left is Sherie Moody-St. Clair, the Idaho Lottery’s creative director.
(Full-size photo)
BOISE – The Inland Northwest could soon see a mega windfall.
Both winning tickets in the $380 million Mega Millions Lottery were sold here – one in Post Falls and the other in the Grant County town of Ephrata, Wash, lottery officials announced Wednesday. Each ticket is worth $190 million.
The Ephrata winners came forward today. Washington Lottery Communications Director Scott Kinney said the Washington ticket was sold to a retired man who plans to bring his family to Olympia to claim his winnings Thursday.
The Idaho winners have not yet stepped forward - they have 180 days to do so.
“With large winners like this, people don’t pop in the next day,” said Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson. “They have things to take care of.”
However, one smaller winner already has been named – Kevin Anderson of Melba, Idaho matched all five numbers but not the mega-ball, and won a $250,000 prize.
“I was a little disappointed when I didn’t get the mega-ball, but then I was like, ‘But I matched five,’” the construction superintendent said. “We were dancing around.”
He said, “It made going to work so much easier today. I told my boss, if it’d been one more number, you would’ve gotten my resignation.”
Anderson said he was out of work for two years, so most of his winnings will go to pay bills, but he and his wife are contemplating buying a new car. His check, after taxes, totaled $168,000.
He was one of 67 people nationwide to match five numbers; more than 5.5 million others won smaller prizes ranging from $2 to $10,000.
But the big news is the big jackpot. It was advertised at $355 million, but because of frenzied sales in anticipation of the big payoff, it jumped up higher, to roughly $380 million. The two big winners will split that amount.
The Ephrata, Wash. winning ticket was sold at a Safeway supermarket, where a stream of shoppers on Wednesday flocked to the video department where lottery tickets are sold, to check their tickets and then turn away in disappointment.
“We know as much as anyone else does,” said Nathan Arlantico, 21, the video department manager. He said the store was busy with lines of potential millionaires buying tickets all day Tuesday.
Lottery officials in Idaho aren’t releasing the store at which the Post Falls ticket was sold until the winner comes forward.
The $190 million figure is the amount each of the two winners will get if they take 26 payments over 25 years. When they come forward, they also have the option of a lump sum of $120 million. After both federal and state income taxes in Idaho, that would end up being a payout of almost $81 million.
The overall jackpot is the second largest in U.S. history. The largest came in March 2007, when two winners in Georgia and New Jersey shared a $390 million Mega Millions jackpot.
The drawing in the multi-state game drew huge interest across the country as thousands of people lined up to buy tickets in 41 states and Washington, D.C.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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polistra on January 05 at 5:40 a.m.
It would be more efficient if the state casino simply wrote the checks directly to the Indian casino. That’s where it will end up anyway.
bean4 on January 05 at 5:53 a.m.
I think the state legislatures are already trying to figure out how they can use the money elsewhere instead of for education where it is supposedly supposed to go. Just wait and see.
PhiltheBibliophil on January 05 at 8:23 a.m.
Rosie’s Cafe, north of Kingman and south of Hoover Dam serves a great breakfast!
reservedparking on January 05 at 8:28 a.m.
The Washington ticket was sold in Ephrata, according to the AP, as reported by The Seattle Times.
biker on January 05 at 9:28 a.m.
How about 355, one million dollar winners. Geez, more people and their families would benefit and I would assume more people would buy tickets. It is still a life changing event. Ridiculous.
eagleproducer on January 05 at 12:59 p.m.
Where are the winning numbers? Aren’t they relevant to the story? There are tons of lower monetary amount winners who’d maybe like to check their numbers?
dukkandpooh on January 05 at 1:31 p.m.
4, 8, 15, 25 and 47, with the Mega ball number of 42
I haven’t checked my tickets yet….gonna keep the hope alive for a bit LOL
sean96 on January 05 at 1:49 p.m.
The great part about the winners being so close to home is we have a front row seat as their lives unravel as what usually happens when some one comes across unearned money. I bet the quote will be something like “I asked and God provided”. Translation “God loves and takes care of gamblers”.
dukkandpooh on January 05 at 3:22 p.m.
Awww, that’s just sour grapes.
johnclarke on January 05 at 8:22 p.m.
Congrats to the winners, take the lump sum and maybe Washington State can fund Medicare.
richardthelionhearted on January 05 at 9:13 p.m.
Bean4 - The education money only comes from the scratch tickets, not the lotto.