ROSCOMMON COUNTY, Mich. – A Roscommon County woman turned a miscommunication with a store clerk into a $100,000 prize from the Michigan Lottery.
68-year-old Barbara Lambert of St. Helen matched four white balls and the Powerball - 02-09-44-53-59, PB: 08 - in the July 20th drawing to win a $50,000 prize.
Due to the Power Play, the prize was multiplied to $100,000.
“I bought my Powerball ticket as usual, and once I got in my car, I realized there must have been a miscommunication because the Power Play wasn’t added to my ticket. I went back into the store to get another ticket with the Power Play and told the cashier to give me a few easy pick numbers this time.”
Lambert purchased her winning ticket from the Shell gas station located at 2007 North M 76 in Saint Helen, about 20 miles east of Houghton Lake.
“The next day, I went back to the same store and scanned my ticket. When a message came up to file a claim, I asked the cashier what it meant, thinking maybe I won a few thousand dollars. The cashier looked at me and said: ‘It’s you!’ I was confused until she told me they had just got word a few hours ago that the store had sold a $100,000 winning Powerball ticket. I started shaking and my eyes filled with tears!”
“I’m so thankful the Power Play wasn’t added to my first ticket and that I went back in for another one, otherwise I wouldn’t be here claiming $100,000! I just retired last week, so this prize couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Lambert says she plans to use her winnings to complete some home improvements and invest.