p>LANSING, February 11, 2008 – A very lucky winner claimed $250,000 after he matched all five white ball numbers in the Feb. 1 Mega Millions drawing.

Ernest Stewart said he only plays the Mega Millions game “every other month” and usually plays $2 Instant tickets. He has been playing for about 10 years.

The winner kept the easy pick ticket in his pocket until claiming his prize. He plans to use the prize money to purchase property in Florida.

He purchased the winning ticket at Rich’s Country Store, 6237 Bishop Rd., in Lansing.

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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