FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            

 

Monday, August 6, 2007

 

CONTACT: David Workman

 (208) 334-2600

 

Mystery $2.78 Million Wild Card Winner Finally Claims Prize

 

Pocatello – It has been 37 days since Ken Covert of Pocatello hit the $2.78 million Wild Card jackpot back on June 30.  And true to his name, Covert has managed to keep a low profile while quietly taking care of his affairs until coming forward to claim his winning ticket in Boise last Friday.

 

In early July, Covert had just returned from a river trip on the Payette when he heard the news that someone had won the Wild Card jackpot from the Pocatello area.

 

“It was Monday morning about 9 a.m. when I checked my ticket.  When I saw all the numbers, and then that ace of spades, my heart beat went up a little,” admitted Covert. He then treated himself to a little self-meditating under a shade tree at his house to contemplate what to do next.

 

Covert purchased the winning ticket from The Teebox, a Ward Oil convenience store located at 3555 Bannock Highway near the west foothills of Pocatello and the Riverside Golf Course. The winning numbers on the ticket were 02, 15, 18, 19, 26 and the Wild Card was the ace of spades.

 

Despite the excitement surrounding Pocatello following the announcement of the winning ticket, Covert waited a month to come forward and claim his jackpot. 

 

“I had a lot of commitments with family and friends early in July,” explained Covert, a long time resident of the Pocatello area. “Then it was a matter of quietly taking care of some details with my work and meeting with my financial planner to gets matters organized.”

 

The Teebox will receive a $25,000 bonus for selling the winning Wild Card ticket. “It’s great when you have a local winner,” stated Karl Ward, owner of Ward Oil. “We’re very excited.”

 

After taxes, Covert will take home a single lump sum worth approximately $1.87 million. While Covert is still considering his long-term options for the future, he does plan to invest a large majority of his winnings. 

 

In the short term, he has a something in mind that is definitely in keeping with his name. “Now that I’ve claimed the ticket and got my money, I think I’ll just disappear for a while,” smiled Covert with a knowing grin.

 

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