LANSING, March 27, 1998 – Just weeks after the Michigan Lottery introduced its new $5 "Break The Bank" instant game, Knute Bee of Otsego walked off with the top prize – $250,000!

The 57-year-old supervisor at Truheat Corporation was elated when he arrived at the Michigan Lottery center to claim his prize.

"I was at home when I scratched off my tickets," Bee said.  "I showed the winning ticket to my wife, Sharon, and asked her if she saw what I saw!  She said it looked like a winner so we called our four kids and the rest of our family too!"

A regular Michigan Lottery player for 25 years, Bee said this $250,000 ticket is his largest prize to date.  He also won a $10,000 Michigan Lottery prize at the Ionia Free Fair!  Bee said he will share his prize money with family, pay bills and plan for an earlier retirement.

The winning "Break The Bank" ticket was purchased at Hardings Market #381, 114 S. Farmer Street, in Otsego.

"Break The Bank" is just one of many Michigan Lottery instant games available at more than 9,000 retailers statewide.

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