Search on for winners of huge Powerball jackpot
DEARBORN, Mo. (AP) - The search is on for the country's newest multimillionaires, the holders of two tickets that matched all six numbers to claim a record $588 million Powerball jackpot.
Lottery officials said Thursday that the winning tickets matching all six numbers were sold at a convenience store in suburban Phoenix and a gas station just off Interstate 29 in a small northwestern Missouri town. Neither ticket holder had come forward.
The mystery fueled a giddy mood at the Trex Mart just outside Dearborn, Mo. - population 500 - as lottery officials and the media descended.
Cashiers Kristi Williams and Kelly Blount greeted customers with big smiles and questions about whether they had bought the winning ticket. No one had come forward to claim the prize by late Thursday morning, Missouri Lottery officials said.
"It's just awesome," Williams said. "It's so exciting. We can't even work."
The winning ticket sold in Arizona was purchased at a 4 Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills, Ariz., state lottery officials said.
In Dearborn, Williams said several local people buy lottery tickets there regularly and workers were hoping it was one of their regulars.
But Baron Hartell, son of the store's owner, Lowell Hartell, said truck drivers moving in both directions on the north-south interstate that connects Kansas City to the Canadian border who frequent the store are also considered locals.
"Even the truck drivers who come around, we see them every day, so they all feel like all locals to us," he said.
Store manager Chris Naurez said business had been "crazy" for Powerball tickets lately and that the store had sold about $27,000 worth of tickets in the last few days.
"This really puts Dearborn on the map," he said.
The general manager of Trex Mart suggested his staff would be sharing in the $50,000 bounty that the store will be awarded for selling one of the winning tickets.
"The response from the owner was, 'I guess we'll be able to give out Christmas bonuses,'" General Manager Kenny Gilbert said. "That's nice, especially at this time of year."
It appeared the winners had yet to come forward, and it wasn't clear if the tickets had been bought by individuals or groups. Winners have 180 days to claim their share of the prize money.
The numbers drawn Wednesday night were 5, 16, 22, 23, 29. The Powerball was 6. The $587.5 million payout represents the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
"If you find you're holding the winning ticket, be sure you sign the back and put it in a safe place until you can take it to a Missouri Lottery office," said May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery. "You will also want to get some legal and financial advice before you claim."
Lottery officials said Thursday that the winning tickets matching all six numbers were sold at a convenience store in suburban Phoenix and a gas station just off Interstate 29 in a small northwestern Missouri town. Neither ticket holder had come forward.
The mystery fueled a giddy mood at the Trex Mart just outside Dearborn, Mo. - population 500 - as lottery officials and the media descended.
Cashiers Kristi Williams and Kelly Blount greeted customers with big smiles and questions about whether they had bought the winning ticket. No one had come forward to claim the prize by late Thursday morning, Missouri Lottery officials said.
"It's just awesome," Williams said. "It's so exciting. We can't even work."
The winning ticket sold in Arizona was purchased at a 4 Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills, Ariz., state lottery officials said.
In Dearborn, Williams said several local people buy lottery tickets there regularly and workers were hoping it was one of their regulars.
But Baron Hartell, son of the store's owner, Lowell Hartell, said truck drivers moving in both directions on the north-south interstate that connects Kansas City to the Canadian border who frequent the store are also considered locals.
"Even the truck drivers who come around, we see them every day, so they all feel like all locals to us," he said.
Store manager Chris Naurez said business had been "crazy" for Powerball tickets lately and that the store had sold about $27,000 worth of tickets in the last few days.
"This really puts Dearborn on the map," he said.
The general manager of Trex Mart suggested his staff would be sharing in the $50,000 bounty that the store will be awarded for selling one of the winning tickets.
"The response from the owner was, 'I guess we'll be able to give out Christmas bonuses,'" General Manager Kenny Gilbert said. "That's nice, especially at this time of year."
It appeared the winners had yet to come forward, and it wasn't clear if the tickets had been bought by individuals or groups. Winners have 180 days to claim their share of the prize money.
The numbers drawn Wednesday night were 5, 16, 22, 23, 29. The Powerball was 6. The $587.5 million payout represents the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
"If you find you're holding the winning ticket, be sure you sign the back and put it in a safe place until you can take it to a Missouri Lottery office," said May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery. "You will also want to get some legal and financial advice before you claim."
My lottery guy said that they get 1% bounty, but apparently that's an urban legend ...Â
Mmmm. Sister lives in Phoenix and husband works in Fountain Hills.
I haven't heard from them lately.
My mother-in-law lives fairly close to that small town in Missouri.....hmmm?
I feel bad for all those who spent their grocery money to get all those worthless tickets. Actually Im not, its accountability and showed they wouldnt have done anything positive with that money. I bought one ticket and one ticket only. Didnt win but rarely does anyone hit the ginormous powerball amounts in this part of the lower 48.
Time for those winners to contact financial advisers, lawyers, etc. It's going to be a wild and rewarding ride if they plan appropriately. So many winners lack the mental capacity to manage the money.
Welcome to the 1%. Now fork over 90%.Â
 @Bianca Their effective federal income tax rate will be about 33%. Arizona and Missouri also have a state income top tax bracket of about 5%.Â
I'm trying to remember that cousin's cousin's cousin's name...you know...the one who lives in Missouri...no, wait, I think she moved to Arizona...   : - )
 Me...I'm dutifully heading back to work... : - (
i think someone made a mistake...i'm positive i should have won...
Hope they can quickly cash in on their winnings and pay their fair share to our government. They desperately need the money.Â
 @John Gault That would fund the Federal Government, that is *borrowing* nearly a billion a day, for something like a couple of hours. Kind'a puts it in perspective.
 @RN1  @John Gault I have instructed all family memer s that should they win the lottery is to shut their pie holes, put the ticket in a safety deposit  box, call the lawyer, set up the trusts and don't be like the winner of the first Washington Lotto. I think the husband or boyfriend went out and bought a helicopter on a $1,000,000, 20 year ANNUITY!