LANSING, May 9, 2003 – James Vile of Newaygo is carrying around some extra cash thanks to the Michigan Lottery’s WINFALL game.  After matching five of six numbers in the WINFALL drawing on Saturday, May 3 he won a $20,806 prize!  The winning numbers for that drawing were: 5, 16, 17, 31, 34 and 43.

In total for the May 3, 2003 WINFALL drawing, there were 31 lucky winners who will each receive $20,806 for matching five numbers; 1,294 winners who will each receive $1,046 for matching four numbers; and 25,020 winners who will each receive $48 for matching three numbers.

The lucky winner, who works as a carpenter for Big Prairie Builders, purchased the winning ticket at B&F Party Store, 8000 Mason Dr., in Newaygo.

The 59-year-old winner told Lottery officials that he learned he had a winning ticket after looking up the winning numbers in the newspaper.

“I was completely shocked to learn I had a winning ticket,” said Vile.  “I had to check the numbers on the ticket four times before I could believe I had actually won!”

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at the Lottery’s regional office in Wyoming, the winner said he kept it in a safe place in his home.  Vile added that he chose his own winning number combination by picking numbers randomly.

Vile, who enjoys fishing and hunting in his spare time, said he and his wife, Mary, plan to use the winnings to pay bills.

WINFALL drawings are held twice a week – Wednesday and Saturday – at 7:29 p.m., and the cost to play is $1 per wager.  Tickets are available at more than 7,200 Lottery retailers statewide.

Since it was created in 1972, the Michigan Lottery has returned over $11 billion to the state School Aid Fund, which supports K-12 public education in the state of Michigan.

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