LANSING, June 10, 1998 – Michigan Lottery players in the northern part of the state have come up big winners recently, winning top prizes up to $150,000! The winners include:
- Gordon Moilanen of Hancock won $150,000 in The Big Game;
- David Oyster of West Branch won $100,000 in the Cash 5 game; and
- Kathe Ghent of Engadine won $150,000 in The Big Game.
Moilanen matched the first five numbers in the May 15 Big Game drawing for the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 3, 37, 41, 42, 48 and the Big Money Ball number was 9.
"I didn’t sleep at all the night I found out," said Moilanen. "I picked up a winning numbers report from a store and went home to check my ticket. At first I thought something must be wrong with either the date or the numbers; I didn’t believe it."
Moilanen, 65, is retired from the financial aid office at Suomi College in Hancock. An occasional Michigan Lottery player for 25 years, Moilanen said he’ll share part of his winnings with his family, purchase a new vehicle and use the rest for retirement.
The winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Copper Country IGA Inc., 801 Market St., in Hancock.
In West Branch, David Oyster never dreamed he’d be a top prize winner, but it happened! He matched all five winning numbers in the April 17 Cash 5 drawing to win the game’s $100,000 grand prize.
"I didn’t think I’d ever hit all five numbers!" said Oyster. "My mother wrote down the numbers, but when I checked my ticket, I didn’t believe she’d gotten them right.
"Then I watched the 11 o’clock news on WNEM-TV 5, and checked the numbers at a store the next morning on the way to work. Then I started to believe it!"
Oyster, 37, said he and his wife, Kathleen, have no immediate plans for their winnings other than to purchase a new truck and invest for their children’s future.
Oyster selected his own Cash 5 numbers, choosing those with special family significance. The winning numbers in the April 17 Cash 5 drawing were: 8, 9, 12, 17 and 22.
The winning Cash 5 ticket was purchased at Sunrise Convenience Store #14, 2445 W M-55, in West Branch.
On a recent visit to Muskegon, Engadine resident Kathe Ghent purchased a Big Game ticket for the March 27 drawing and wound up $150,000 richer, matching the first five numbers. That day’s winning numbers were: 13, 15, 29, 36, 47, and the Big Money Ball Number was 24.
Although Ghent bought an "easy pick" ticket, she coincidentally received a ticket with wagers that matched both her and her husband’s birthdates!
"While shopping, I got the winning numbers from a store in Muskegon and couldn’t believe it," said Ghent. "I called my daughters, then I called Lottery headquarters to pre-validate the ticket."
Ghent, 54, is a part-time L.P.N. and has been a regular Michigan Lottery player for the last 10 years. She said she and her husband, Louis, will use part of their winnings for a trip to Alaska and invest the rest.
The winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Meijer Inc. #19, 700 W. Norton Ave., in Muskegon.
Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday. Cash 5 drawings are conducted every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
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