LANSING, August 22, 2002 – James Janni of Birch Run knew he had won something on the Mega Millions ticket he purchased – he just wasn’t sure how much! Janni matched the first five numbers in the August 16 Mega Millions drawing to win a $175,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 22, 31, 33, 44, 52 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 43.

"I picked up a winning number report from a local store so I could check the numbers on my ticket," Janni said. "After checking my ticket, I couldn’t believe I had matched five numbers so I asked the clerk to run the ticket through the Lottery machine just to make sure. When she ran it through the printout said I needed to file a claim with the Lottery. The clerk said, ‘You won something big!’"

Janni, a stain technician at Maday Cabinets in Saginaw, left the store and took the winning ticket to the Lottery’s regional office in Bridgeport. That is where he learned he had a $175,000 winning ticket.

"At the Bridgeport Lottery office they told me what I had won and that I needed to go to Lansing to collect my prize," the winner said. "I was so surprised when they told me I had won $175,000 I almost fell over! I am still in shock!"

Janni, who said he enjoys hunting, fishing and golfing in his free time, purchased the winning Mega Millions "easy pick" ticket at Conlee Travel Center #2, 9180 Birch Run Road, in Birch Run.  Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the lucky man said he kept it with him at all times to ensure its safety. He added that he plans to use his winnings to pay bills.

The last Big Game drawing took place on Tuesday, May 14, 2002. On Wednesday, May 15, 2002, The Big Game was replaced by Mega Millions. Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday, August 23, with an estimated jackpot of $90 million. For more information about Mega Millions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery or the Mega Millions Web site at www.megamillions.com.

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