http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/good-week-lottery-sales-southwest-missouri_53534.mp3
Two lottery players from the Ozarks were the recent recipients of hefty prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission.
56-year-old Carl Pierce purchased a winning scratcher ticket worth $4 million from a Kum and Go in Republic. The city has been a lucky place for players as of late, says Lottery Commission Spokesman John Wells.
“There was a $1 million Powerball winner there about a month ago, and then recently this scratch off winner which is a $2.6 million prize in a lump sum,” Wells said.
Pierce, of Clever, became the 71st instant millionaire in the state.
On Saturday, an 18-year-old factory worker from Greenfield also found himself a winner, to the tune of $100,000. The winning “Black Pearls” scratcher was purchased by Shannon Robinson at a Casey’s in Springfield.
In fiscal year 2012, retailers in Greene County alone sold more than $3 million worth of lottery tickets, with more than $32 million in lottery winnings awarded.
Through the Missouri Lottery Commission, nearly 25 cents of every dollar go toward public education, which represents about four percent of total funding for the state’s public elementary, secondary, and higher education systems.
In December, we told you about a Springfield man who won $10,000 in just his second ever lottery ticket purchase. His winning ticket came during the drawing for a record $587.5 million Powerball jackpot, which was split between a Dearborn, Missouri couple and a player from Arizona.