Dec. 17, 2012. This week, Michael Pepper of Statesville became the fifteenth player in North Carolina to claim a $1 million prize playing Powerball since the game changed in January. Before the change, players who matched all five white balls would win a $200,000 prize.
Pepper plans to use a portion of his winnings from the Dec. 1 drawing, worth $680,000 after taxes were withheld, to pay off his auto loans and his wife’s student loans. Pepper beat odds of 1 in 5.1 million to win his prize. He purchased his winning ticket at the Kangaroo Express on Safreit Road in Statesville.
Players in Saturday’s Powerball drawing have the chance to win an estimated $40 million if taken as an annuity or $26.4 million if taken as a lump sum. The Wednesday, Dec. 12 drawing produced 16,272 winning tickets worth from $4 to $10,000, totaling $135,633. In the Dec. 8 drawing, 17,587 tickets won prizes from $4 to $10,000 for a total of $133,920.
Big Winner Report
Robeson County woman scratches off $1 million instant prize
Wanda Evans purchased her winning ticket for the $4,000,000 Cash Blowout game at Mr. G’s Convenience Mart on Iona Street in Fairmont. Three $1 million prizes, and one top prize of $4 million, have yet to be claimed in the game.
Asheville woman to buy a home with $150,000 lottery prize
“I thought I was looking at it wrong,” Felecia Gordon said. “I looked at it a hundred times. It was surreal.”
Raleigh man to buy his mother a dog after winning $100,000 prize
“My mom has always loved schnauzers,” Martrail Utley said as he collected his winnings. “She’s going to get the best one there is.”
Mega Millions Report
Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $35 million if taken as an annuity or $26.7 million if taken as a lump sum. In Tuesday’s drawing, 10,241 tickets won prizes ranging from $2 to $10,000 and totaled $76,602. In the Friday, Dec. 7 drawing, 10,334 tickets won $55,619 in prizes ranging from $2 to $450.
North Carolina Games Report
Since Thursday, Dec. 6, players of N.C. Education Lottery games won more than $20.4 million in prizes with more than $12.9 million awarded to winners of instant scratch-off games. Players of North Carolina draw games Pick 3, Pick 4 and Cash 5 won more than $7 million in total prizes.
Triple digits paid off in a big way for Carolina Pick 3 players in the Sunday, Dec. 9 evening drawing. The 8-8-8 combination resulted in a prize payout of more than $3.7 million.
Other winners across North Carolina
This week, prizes of $10,000 or more were claimed by winners across the state.
Winners in the Dec. 12 Powerball drawing:
Winner Hometown Amount Won Store Where Ticket Was Purchased
Unknown Unknown $10,000 David’s Three D Grocery
10461 Ramsey St., Linden
Unknown Unknown $10,000 RJ Tobacco Mart
407 Hope Mills Rd., Fayetteville
Winner in the Dec. 11 Mega Millions drawing:
Uknown Unknown $10,000 Wilco #108
3331 Thomasville Rd., Winston-Salem
Winner in the Dec. 8 Powerball drawing:
Tammy Roberson Littleton $10,000 New Dixie Mart #33
51 Old Farm Rd., Roanoke Rapids
Winner in the Dec. 5 Powerball drawing:
David Boyd, Various $10,000 Cruizers #220
Richard Chilton & Lisa Holland 6325 U.S. 1/U.S. 158, Middleburg
Winner in the Dec. 1 Powerball drawing:
Sherman Leathers Raleigh $10,000 Dollar Man
1601-11 Cross Link Rd., Raleigh
Winner in the Nov.28 Powerball drawing:
Robert Muir Raleigh $10,000 Food Lion #536
9101-107 Leesville Rd., Raleigh
Instant scratch-off ticket top tier prize winners:
Janet Anderson Alexander $50,000 Instant Carolina Cash 5
Michael Farrer Charlotte $50,000 Junior Big Ol’ Bucks
Lewis Green Newton $50,000 Instant Carolina Cash 5
Justin May Southport $50,000 Holiday Millions
Theresa Sehlhoff Clemmons $50,000 Maximum Green
Toby Eason Vanceboro $10,000 Cash Spectacular