Benefiting Idaho public schools and buildings

 

IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: David Workman

April 6, 2006                                                                                                (208) 334-2600

 

No April Fools Joke, 8 Utahans Win $200,000 on Powerball

 

Boise - Kelly Turner’s group of eight regular Powerball players thought he was playing an April Fools joke on them late last Saturday night after he discovered he held a ticket that had matched all five numbers, but not the Powerball, in the $154.7 million draw.

 

“I didn’t check the results until about 11 o’clock,” said Turner, a Hyde Park, Utah resident. “I pulled up the website and started reading the numbers. I probably read them five times before I screamed at my brother in the other room that we’d won.  Even he thought I was kidding.”

 

This was no joke. After the shock wore off, Turner started calling his friends and family members to share the good news. “It took some convincing,” elaborated the 29-year old. “A few of them called me back to make sure it wasn’t an April Fools prank.”

 

The group of eight family and friends won $200,000 on a Quick Pick purchased at La Tienda in Franklin, Idaho. The winning numbers they matched were: 01, 10, 23, 50, and 55. Turner’s group had a Powerball number of 36 and the winning Powerball number was 29.  After taxes, each of the eight players received a check for $16,800.  

 

For their part in selling the ticket, La Tienda receives a bonus check for $20,000. “It’s neat to see us have a local winner!” said K.C. Spackman, the store manager.

 

The group of eight pools $10 per player each a week when the Powerball Jackpot goes above $100 million. Joseph Call from Logan, Utahwas a first-time Powerball player in the group.  “After his success,” explained Turner, “lots of people want to join our pool.  We have a stack of tickets for this coming Saturday night.”  This Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is $195 million.

 

“Everyone wants in. We have 12 people in the pool for this Saturday night,” said Spence Hatch, a 28-year old diesel mechanic from Randolph, Utah, and long time friend of Turner.  “With all the tickets we have, we’re planning on being back in Boise to claim the big jackpot next week!”

 

The other five winners were: Mathew Turner, Hyde Park, Utah; Tonia Heishman, Smithfield, Utah; Nicholas Groesbeck, Preston, Idaho; Joseph Call, Logan, Utah; Staci Zilles, Logan, Utah; and Scott Peterson, Logan, Utah.

 

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