02.20.06 Powerball Lotto
Winners ConAgra Meat Packers Win $365 Million
Posted 2/20/2006 1:37
AM$365 million Powerball ticket sold in Nebraska
By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
The U-Stop in downtown Lincoln buzzed with the news on
Sunday. The convenience store had minted Nebraska's
newest multi-millionaire — the winner of the record $365
million Powerball lottery jackpot.
The U-Stop on West O Street in Lincoln, Neb., sold the
winning Powerball ticket. The store gets a $50,000
bonus.
By Bill Wolf, AP
At 3:09 p.m. Friday, somebody (store clerks weren't sure
who) bought the winning ticket. The buyer took the
"Quick Pick" option, letting the ticket computer select
the numbers 15, 17, 43, 44, 48 and Powerball 29. Those
numbers matched those drawn Saturday night at Powerball
headquarters in Des Moines.
"There's so many news people in here and customers all
talking about it," U-Stop manager Kelly Bowen said. "I'm
so excited, you'd think that I'd won it."
The U-Stop will receive $50,000 for selling the winning
ticket, Nebraska Lottery spokesman Brian Rockey said.
It typically takes a few days for winners of a big
jackpot to come forward, Rockey said. They often spend
that time speaking with family, lawyers and financial
planners. The winning ticket also may belong to several
people who pooled their money.
Powerball is played in 28 states, the District of
Columbia and the Virgin Islands. All but three states —
Delaware, Kansas and North Dakota — release the name of
the winner. South Carolina keeps winners' names secret
upon request, according to Powerball.
The winner has the option of taking the money in
installments over 30 years or a lump sum. The cash
option is $177.3 million, or about $124 million after
taxes, according to the lottery association. The first
payment on the installment plan is $6,507,986 after
taxes.
That will go a long, long way in Lincoln, a city of
235,000 people, and home to the University of Nebraska.
The median home there is valued at $106,000. The
national median value is $151,000, according to the
Census Bureau. Factory workers make about $34,000 and
professionals about $38,000, according to the state
Department of Labor.
Saturday's jackpot eclipsed the previous record of $363
million won in 2000 by two people playing The Big Game,
now called Mega Millions.
Back at the U-Stop, Bowen had to get back to her
customers. Some of them wanted to buy lottery tickets,
she said.
"My goodness, it's been busy," she said.
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