LANSING, February 11, 2008 – A lucky Minden man is $250,000 richer after matching all five white balls in the Jan. 28 Mega Millions drawing.

Donald Ertman, who plays the Lottery regularly, said he thought the ticket was only worth $150, but was “shocked” when he discovered the actual prize.

Ertman hid his ticket in a safe deposit box before claiming his prize at the Lottery office in Lansing. He has no immediate plans for his prize money.

The winning easy pick ticket was purchased at Bad Axe Party Store, 690 S. Vandyke, in Bad Axe.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game in Michigan, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at nearly 11,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2007, the contribution to schools was $748.9 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $14.3 billion to education in Michigan.

For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at https://www.michiganlottery.com/.

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