LANSING, February 25, 1999 – John Sznitka of Sterling Heights recently hit the big time with the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game!  Sznitka matched the first five numbers in the February 12 drawing to win the $150,000 prize.  That day’s winning numbers were: 8, 11, 16, 27, 34 and the Big Money Ball number was 8.

"I saw the winning numbers in the Detroit Free Press," Sznitka said.  "I went to the party store after seeing the numbers in the paper to get a winning number printout.  I wanted to be sure that I had really won! I jumped all the way to the ceiling when I realized that I had actually won!"

The 58-year-old avid bird watcher and feeder said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 26 years. Sznitka purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Pinebrook Party Store, 5625 18 Mile Road, in Sterling Heights.

Sznitka said he may use part of his winnings to take a trip with this wife, but he hasn’t yet decided what to do with the rest.  He said he is "still thinking about it."

The lucky winner offered the following good wishes to other Lottery hopefuls: "Good luck! I would like for everyone to feel the excitement of winning the Lottery!"

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.

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