A lucky group of 23 co-workers from Great Lakes Energy in Boyne City is splitting a $1 million Powerball prize.
The 23 Dreams lottery club matched the five white balls – 04-22-24-31-33 – drawn on June 15 to win the big prize. They bought the winning ticket at the Up North Party Store, located at 1176 South M-75 in Boyne City. The club missed winning the $153 million Powerball jackpot by just one number. The club’s ticket had the number 11 for the Powerball and 10 was drawn.
“We’ve had a lottery club for several months and everyone who plays does it for fun, no one ever expected to win,” said Al Aown, the club’s representative. “The morning after the drawing a co-worker rushed into my office to tell me the Up North Party Store had sold a winning ticket.
“When I checked the ticket I couldn’t really believe it.”
While Aown worked on arranging the details of claiming the $1 million prize, he tried to keep news of the big win quiet.
“There are no secrets in Boyne City,” said Aown. “I had messages by the time I got home that night from people asking if we’d won.
“Having a ticket worth $1 million really makes your mind race. To keep it safe, I hid it in the pocket of an old suit in the back of my closet.”
Each member of the 23 Dreams lottery club will receive about $43,400.
“It’s not enough to retire, but I know everyone is looking forward to having a nice chunk of cash,” Aown said.
Tonight’s Powerball jackpot stands at $361 million. The cash option for the jackpot is about $250 million.
If a Michigan player win’s tonight’s $361 million jackpot, it would be the largest Powerball prize won in the state. On Aug. 15, 2012, Donald Lawson, of Lapeer, won a $337 million Powerball jackpot. Lawson’s jackpot holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan.
Powerball has been a lucrative game for Michigan Lottery players in 2016. Ten Michigan players, including the 23 Dream lottery club, have won the game’s $1 million prize.
Players still have plenty of time to purchase tickets for a chance to win the big jackpot. Players may buy Powerball tickets for tonight’s drawing at Lottery retailers throughout the state and online at MichiganLottery.com until 9:45 p.m.
Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to $2 million may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.
The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerballlive.com/powerball. Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
