LANSING, January 16, 2003 – Lucky Lottery players from all across the state are winning big with the Michigan Lottery’s Mega Millions game! Lewis Hannah of Charlotte was thrilled to learn he had won a top Mega Millions prize upon looking up the winning numbers on the Michigan Lottery’s Web site (www.michigan.gov/lottery). Hannah matched the first five numbers in the December 31 Mega Millions drawing to win a $175,000 prize! The winning numbers for that day’s drawing were: 8, 21, 29, 42, 51 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 34.

He purchased the winning Mega Millions ticket at Quality Dairy Company #32, 686 Lansing Road, in Charlotte.

"After the drawing, I looked up the winning numbers on the Lottery’s Web site," said Hannah. "I was stunned to see the first five winning numbers matched the numbers on my ticket. I couldn’t believe that I had won! I hurried to a local Lottery retailer to pick up a winning number report so I could double-check the numbers on my ticket. I was shocked and excited when I realized I had actually won a $175,000 prize!"

The 30-year-old winner said he kept the winning ticket with him at all times prior to turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing. He plans to use part of his winnings to purchase a new car, pay bills and invest the remainder for the future.

Two other $175,000 Mega Millions winners from the metro-Detroit area were also excited about winning top Lottery prizes.

Rosalyn Junior of Eastpointe claimed a $175,000 prize in the December 27 Mega Millions drawing. The winning numbers for that drawing were: 11, 14, 26, 30, 39 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 3. She purchased the winning ticket at Linwood Liquor, 8929 Linwood St., in Detroit.

S. S. Kachaturoff of Dearborn won a $175,000 prize in the December 10 Mega Millions drawing. The winning numbers for that drawing were: 3, 5, 9, 16, 31 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 28. He purchased the winning ticket at Gulley Petro Mart Inc., 25337 W. Warren St., in Dearborn Heights.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2002 Mega Millions replaced The Big Game. Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday, January 17, with an estimated jackpot of $42 million. For more information about Mega Millions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery.

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