Show-Me State Times

An over-the-road truck driver recently won a $50,000 Powerball prize by utilizing the Double Play feature with his Quick Pick ticket. The Double Play option allows participants to engage their selected numbers in a second drawing occurring immediately after the main Powerball event.

"I like to buy a ticket in the different states as I drive through," the winner commented on his strategy for purchasing tickets.

The winning ticket was bought at Travel Center of America, located at 225 E. Evergreen St. in Strafford. The ticket matched four out of the five white-ball numbers, as well as the Powerball number. The numbers drawn on April 7 were: 2, 31, 36, 51, and 58, with a Powerball number of 15.

"I’ve won a couple of times before, enough to cover dinner, but nothing like this!" he noted regarding his previous lottery experiences.

Upon verifying the ticket multiple times, he phoned his son and daughter-in-law to share the news of his win. Initially, his son was skeptical of the claim.

"I sent a picture of the Lottery bag I got when I claimed my prize. My son said, 'You’re really playing it up this time!'" the winner recounted, laughing.

Powerball drawings occur thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 9:59 p.m. It is a multi-state draw game allowing wide participation.

In fiscal year 2024, individuals in Greene County collectively won over $49.4 million in Missouri Lottery prizes. Additionally, retailers earned more than $4.3 million in commissions and bonuses, and more than $19.1 million went toward educational programs in the county.