LANSING, September 2, 2009 – Howard Wiersema won a big $10,000 prize after scratching a winning Million Dollar Mega Play Instant ticket.

The Whitehall man “didn’t really believe” he won the money until he had the clerk verify the ticket was a winner. The lucky man plans to pay bills with the prize money.

The winning instant ticket was purchased at Whitehall Shell Minimart, 3385 E. Colby St., in Whitehall.

Million Dollar Mega Play is just one of many Michigan Lottery Instant tickets available at nearly 11,000 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 2008, the contribution to schools was $740.7 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.

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

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