Powerball Jackpot Hits $150 Million

Fri., March 3, 2000

From Staff

Driven by sales exceeding 500 a minute, Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has grown to $150 million.

“Everybody’s got to buy a couple at least,” said Frank Fisher, the Kum and Go convenience store manager in Ottumwa. Ticket sales at his store were twice the usual amount Thursday.

Tickets were selling at 519 per minute Thursday afternoon in Iowa, said Iowa Lottery Commissioner Ed Stanek. The daily total for Powerball ticket sales in Iowa had climbed to $157,943 at 1 p.m. Thursday.

“What we’re seeing is higher per capita sales than we’ve ever seen before,” he said.

Saturday’s jackpot will be the fifthlargest in the world, Stanek said. The world-record lottery jackpot was also a Powerball game. A group of Columbus, Ohio, workers claimed the $295.7 million on July 29, 1998.

The current jackpot began building after an Iowa family claimed $31.8 million in January.

Wednesday’s Powerball drawing produced 35 tickets that matched the first five numbers, but missed the Powerball for a $100,000 prize.

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