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Grandparents Win $270 Million Jackpot

AOL Wire ServicesPosted: 2008-02-24 19:40:53Filed Under: Nation News
PORTAL, Ga. (Feb. 23) - Winning a $270 million Mega Millions jackpot is no doubt special, but doing it the way Tonya and Robert Harris did on Saturday was "unbelievable," as Tonya put it. The 47-year-old woman bought a ticket using the lucky numbers her 54-year-old husband chose: the days of the month of their six grandchildren's birthdays: 7, 12, 13, 19, 22 and 10.

Tonya and Robert Harris bought the winning ticket to the $270 million Mega Millions jackpot at Clyde's Market 70, a convenience story in Portal, Ga. They used their six grandchildren's birthdays as the numbers on the winning ticket. Click through the photos to see other big lottery winners.
"It just hasn't sunk in yet really," she said, according to a report on ABCNews.com. "My husband is really excited, he's been crying all morning. Everything is unbelievable right now."

The couple said they would use the money to get their family out of some financial trouble and take care of their kids and grandkids. "God answers prayers, that's all I can say," Mrs. Harris said.

The winning ticket was bought at Clyde's Market 70 in Portal, Ga., about 200 miles southeast of Atlanta.

The town was buzzing with activity after Georgia Lottery officials said Saturday that the winning ticket was purchased at the convenience store.

The Georgia Lottery has not yet confirmed that the Harrises won the jackpot because the winning ticket must be presented for verification and the lottery offices are closed until Monday, said Tandi Reddick, a Georgia Lottery spokeswoman.

The Harrises held up a pink ticket bearing the winning numbers as they talked to a TV reporter in front of their mobile home Saturday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also had a story on the couple Saturday night.

Robert Harris said he planned to take the lump-sum option, which would amount to about $164 million before taxes.

In addition to the grand prize, 36 players matched all five numbers but not the Mega Ball number. They will receive second prizes of $250,000 each. One of those tickets was sold in Michigan.

Another 207 players - including 17 with tickets bought in Michigan - matched four numbers, plus the Mega Ball number. Those are good for third prizes of $10,000 each.

Six California players matched five numbers, and another 38 matched four of the five lotto numbers, plus the Mega Ball number. The prize amounts in California are different than what prize winners in the other Mega Ball participating states would receive.

The next drawing - worth $12 million - will be Tuesday.

 

I really appreciate small blessings, so I'm happy to say that I won a raffle promo a month ago, a 'free automotive check-up and repair' courtesy of an auto shop in our city. Cool huh? Now i can have my Cadillac SRX oil filter fixed.

 

Your oil filter was broken?

 

no one has won a lottery in 6 months ?

 

I've been going the other way lately. Left $500 in a casino a couple of weeks ago. Ouch.

 

Good point !

POLL edited per your comment !

 

I won 1500 in a raffle almost 10 years ago
________
TTR90

 

I play the 649 regularly with the same #s. Nothing substantial yet. Think the biggest was about 60 bucks.
I also like the scratch tickets. Bingos are ok but prefer the Crosswords. I think the biggest ive gotten on any of those was 100 on one ticket.

I know i like to gamble so have stayed clear of casinos ....until valentines weekend.
The wife and I went up to Mohawk horse track and gave the slots a whirl.

She did the playin and I watched. We both had a really good time.
We lost 50 on the slots, and spent about another 50 on beer and food. So 100 for an entertaining afternoon out worked for us.

We're definitely gonna do it again sometime soon.

 

I thought this was great...

Someone is finally making some money off Bernie Madoff.

A Queens construction worker used the swindler's prison number to play the lottery and won $1,500...



I think I'm going to go play my mortgage account numbers and see what happens :-)

 

I love to play lottery but not very lucky never won. But it would be cool to start again I think.