LANSING, October 28, 1997 – Three Macomb County residents may feel like they have the "Midas touch," and who could blame them?  The three are lucky Michigan Lottery winners, each collecting top prizes!

In Sterling Heights, Tobia Hanna won a $150,000 prize by matching the first five numbers in The Big Game drawing on September 5.  That day’s winning numbers were: 14, 15, 25, 26, 42 and the Big Money Ball number was 3.

"I’m just excited!" said Hanna.  "I’ve never really won anything like this before!"

A regular Michigan Lottery player for 25 years, Hanna said he would use part of his Big Game winnings to pay bills and vacation in Europe.

Hanna selected Big Game numbers which had "special family significance," and purchased the winning ticket at Bulls Eye Market, 1447 Holmes Road, in Ypsilanti.

Josefa Hachey of New Baltimore got a big surprise when she tried to cash in what she thought was a $1 Big Game winning ticket from the October 10 drawing.  That day’s winning numbers were: 12, 21, 31, 43, 45 and the Big Money Ball number was 14.

"I thought I was turning in a ticket worth $1, and the clerk said, ‘No, you’ve won $150,000!’" said Hachey.  "The supervisor came out and told me ‘We’ve been looking for the winner.’  I couldn’t believe it – I thought they were all joking!"

Hachey said she will use her Big Game winnings to pay off her house and put the rest toward retirement.  She purchased the winning "easy pick" ticket at Kroger #621, 35000 23 Mile Road, in New Baltimore.

In St. Clair Shores, a Cash 5 player matched all five numbers in the September 26 drawing for a top prize of $100,000!  That day’s winning numbers were:1, 13, 16, 24 and 28.

The winner, who requested anonymity, learned of her good fortune while playing bingo when the winning numbers were called out during intermission.

"I realized I had matched all five numbers, and I put my hand over my mouth to keep quiet and put my ticket in my purse," she said.  "I didn’t tell anyone it was a winning ticket, and then I went next door to the store to verify it was a winner."

The 64-year-old winner said she will use her Cash 5 winnings for retirement.  She picked her own numbers based on family birthdays and purchased the winning ticket at Zinsers Party Store, 20789 E. 13 Mile Road, in Roseville.

Cash 5 drawings are conducted Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Friday’s (October 31) Big Game jackpot is estimated at $5 million.

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