The families’ jackpot-winning ticket matched all five white balls, and the red Powerball, to win the jackpot of August 2nd, which grew over nine drawings to an annuity value of $86.3 million.  The family has elected to take the one time lump-sum cash option of $42.5 million.    

Barrie Edwards watched the televised Powerball drawing to learn he held the jackpot-winning ticket. He immediately ran to share the news with his wife, Jean, who had gone to bed. Shortly after the drawing, the Edwards called Terry and Linda Edwards, Barrie’s brother and sister-in-law, to inform them of the jackpot win.

Barrie and Terry Edwards and family members have purchased Lottery tickets for years, and long ago they made a verbal agreement that if one of them won a large jackpot, the prize would be split among family members, all of whom are natives or long-time residents of Lancaster County.            

The jackpot-winning Powerball ticket was a $1 quick-pick generated free in conjunction with a Pennsylvania Lottery promotion. Barrie Edwards purchased two Match 6 tickets to receive his free Powerball ticket at the Turkey Hill store on Willow Street Pike in Willow Street, Lancaster County.

On behalf of the group, Jean Edwards presented the winning ticket for validation yesterday at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters in Middletown after consulting with legal and financial counsel.

Perez usually plays the Lottery a few times a week and plans to share the money with his family. “My company uses Country Convenience to purchase fuel, so I’m there often,” he said. “When I had them check my ticket they told me I was a big winner and I didn’t believe it.” Perez adds, “I’m very happy about winning and feel good about the Lottery supporting education.”

New Mexico Powerball Fan Multiplies Prize into $600,000 with Power Play!
An “astonished” Alamogordo man claimed a $600,000 prize from the New Mexico Lottery recently. Karl L. Vogt, who began playing Powerball a year ago, matched five of the six winning numbers for the June 28 drawing.  Matching five numbers ordinarily pays a $200,000 prize, but because Vogt added the Power Play option to his wager, his prize was tripled.  Power Play multiplies non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four or five times, depending on the Power Play number drawn.  On June 28, “three” was drawn as the multiplier.

Vogt discovered his $600,000 prize after checking the winning Powerball numbers on the lottery’s website. “I didn’t believe it at first,” Vogt said.  “I read the numbers again and again.”

As the realization sank in, the 63-year-old Vogt wandered to his living room where he said a prayer of gratitude.  Then it was back to the lottery’s website to check the numbers again.

Vogt, who works in Alamogordo providing support services to German Air Force personnel learning to fly jets at various U.S. military installations, said his prize will be invested for retirement. Vogt also wants to purchase a vacation home in Alamogordo.  The globetrotter thinks southern New Mexico is one of the most beautiful places on earth.            

Vogt purchased his winning ticket at Lowe’s in Alamogordo.

Black and Soucek said they play the Lottery regularly and chose their winning numbers through Easy Pick.

“I checked the numbers on Thursday and when I realized we had won, I went to the Lottery website to check again,” said Soucek.

He immediately called Black and the two started making plans: they are splitting the prize. While most of the winnings will go in savings, they said they will soon be taking a relaxing vacation.

“Every time we play, we think…this is our contribution to education,” said Soucek knowing the Lottery supports Oklahoma’s education.

$1 Million Winner in D.C. Wedded to Wife and Lottery for Many Years
Lionel Holmes was as cool as the jazz music played on U Street when he strolled into the D.C. Lottery’s Claim Center with his $1 million POWERBALL ticket. The D.C. native is a Vietnam War veteran, retired federal government worker, devoted husband, and longtime D.C. Lottery player.The 63-year old northwest Washington, D.C. resident parlayed his $2 POWERBALL wager for the July 5, 2008 drawing into $1 million when his ticket correctly matched all five white balls to win $200,000. His Power Play option for an extra $1 multiplied that win five times and into the big hit. Holmes bought his winning ticket at Starlight Food. 

Happily married since 1970, Holmes says he and his wife have been playing the D.C. Lottery for nearly as long. About his winning strategy, Holmes advises fellow D.C. Lottery players, “Always go with the Power Play option.” Asked how he’ll spend his cool million—with one daughter pursuing a PhD at Georgetown University and another having graduated from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University—Holmes affirmed that in addition to getting rid of some bills, he will pay off his daughter’s student loan.

Indiana Auctioneer Wins $1 Million on Power Play!
Larry Isaacs of Logansport and his family drove to Hoosier Lottery Headquarters thinking he might have won $400,000 on Powerball Power Play. It was only while they were on their way that his step-father checked the Power Play number.

“He told me ‘I think you might have won $1 million,’” Isaacs said.

Isaacs, the owner of Isaacs Auctions and Pacesetters Real Estate, gave his ticket to the Hoosier Lottery associates who confirmed that he had won $1 million. His step-father, who buys the tickets every week, purchased the Powerball ticket with Power Play from Marsh Supermarket in Logansport. “I plan to pay bills and make my mom and step-dad’s life easier than it ever has been in their lives, and enjoy being out of debt,” Isaacs said.

“Right now I don’t have any plans for my winnings,” she said. “When I first realized I had won, I thought about everything I would like to do and it made my mind spin.”Johnson said she encourages others to play because the money supports education.

“When some of the people I work with learned I had won, they went out and bought tickets.”

Bigbee credits her fiancé with the $1 million win."He wanted me to play Powerball, but I told him that I never win playing that game," Bigbee said. "I guess I can't say that now. Bigbee purchased her winning ticket at Howdershell BP in Hazelwood. She let the computer select the winning numbers.Bigbee said she plans to use her winnings to buy a house, a car, share with her friends and family and treat her cat, Black, "like royalty."

Oklahoma  Resident Wins $1 Million Playing Powerball!
The Oklahoma Lottery has announced Keith Fulton, a 44-year-old Oklahoma City resident, as Oklahoma’s newest millionaire. Fulton won the prize in the Wednesday evening, June 11th Powerball drawing. He purchased his winning ticket at Paul’s Conoco Service Center.

A regular at Paul’s for nearly 30 years, Fulton has been playing the Lottery since its launch.

“I was watching the drawing live but I knew I didn’t match the Powerball number so I didn’t immediately check my tickets,” he said. “Once I realized my numbers matched the five white balls I knew I had won a million dollars through Power Play. I hid my ticket in a Kleenex box and barely slept from the excitement.”

Fulton matched all five white balls winning $200,000. Since Fulton selected the $1 Power Play option his prize was increased to $1 million as the Power Play multiplier for the drawing was a “5.”

His plans at the moment include vacationing, paying bills and investing—and he plans to keep working for at least 20 more years.

"I had some farming business to take care of," said Blake, a crops farmer, who was especially busy after the recent storms. "It was hard to work."

Blake, accompanied by his fiancée Jill Dunn, was able to claim his $800,000 prize Tuesday morning at Hoosier Lottery Headquarters in Indianapolis.

"I always play Powerball and purchase Power Play," said Blake. "I've talked others into playing Power Play, too!"

Power Play is the Powerball multiplier feature that allows a player to multiply any non-jackpot win up to five times. Blake matched all five white Powerball numbers to win $200,000. That amount was quadrupled because the $1 Power Play option multiplier was 4.

The White County resident has played the same numbers for 15 years and when asked if he'd continue to play the same numbers, he responded: "Of course! I have more chances to hit the jackpot! This time I was only 4 digits off!"

Blake purchased his winning ticket from Gas America in West Lafayette.

He isn't sure what he's going to do with his winnings yet, but possibly get some things he and Dunn need.

"And we'll definitely put some money back for retirement," said Dunn. Blake and his fiancée plan to continue playing the Hoosier Lottery.

"You can't win if you don't have your ticket!" said Blake.

Family Birthdays a Lucky Charm for $800,000 Tennessee Winner!
Although four family birthdays in one month can occasionally present a shopping challenge, the dates proved to be a lucky charm for Knoxville’s Kathy Jones, who used the numbers to win $800,000 playing Powerball.

“I always play my family’s birthdays,” said Kathy, who claimed her winnings at the Tennessee Lottery’s Nashville headquarters. Kathy, who owns Brickstone, a masonry company in Knoxville, plays the number nine for September, then the dates of the birthdays in that month of her mother, father, niece and daughter-in-law. “And, I always play the Power Play,” she said. Power Play is the multiplier feature of Powerball, which allows a player to multiply any non-jackpot win up to five times. For example, since Kathy’s numbers matched all five of the five white ball numbers drawn Saturday night, May 31, the prize was $200,000. Since she added Power Play for an extra dollar, and the multiplier was four for that drawing, the prize grew to $800,000.

“She was so excited she jumped off our deck,” said Don, Kathy’s husband. “Then she starting yelling, ‘Happy Birthday to me!’” Turns out, last week was Kathy’s birthday! The Joneses said they will take some time to decide what they will do with their winnings. Meanwhile, birthdays will remain an important part of Kathy’s life. “Now I’m looking to win with my May birthdays!”