LANSING, April 15, 2008 – Ruth Rupert has played the Lottery since its inception in 1972 and finally hit it big! She matched four white ball numbers and the gold Mega ball on the April 4 Mega Millions drawing and won $10,000!

The South Branch resident plays the same numbers “all the time” and plans to use the prize money for a new roof. This is the largest prize the 58-year-old has won.

The lucky winner purchased the winning ticket at Kocher’s Market, 3195 N. M 65, in Hale.

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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