LANSING, October 16, 1998 – Esther Ronk of Kawkawlin recently hit the big time with the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game!  Ronk matched the first five numbers in the October 13 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize.  That day’s winning numbers were: 12, 24, 30, 43, 44 and the Big Money Ball number was 1.

"I called the regional Lottery office in Bridgeport to find out what the winning numbers were for the October 13 drawing," she said.  "When I saw that I had matched five numbers I started shaking and I haven’t been able to eat at all since I found out!  I paced the floor almost the entire night before I turned my ticket in.  I was so excited that I only got about two or three hours of sleep!"

The 67-year old plays The Big Game, Lotto and the instant games regularly.  Ronk purchased the winning "easy pick" Big Game ticket at Village Mini Mart, 1100 S. Euclid Ave., in Bay City.

The retired cook said she plans to use part of her winnings to pay bills and buy a rocking chair.  She said she still needs to think about what she wants to do with the rest of her prize.

The Big Game is a six-state lottery game which held its first drawing in September 1996.  Lotteries in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia contribute to the joint prize pool.  Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.  The next Big Game drawing will be conducted tonight – the expected jackpot is $5 million.

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