News Release

78 People Share $200,000 Powerball^® Prize

MAY 27, 2009 — A group of 78 people (76 co-workers from HiRel Systems in Marshall plus two family members) shared a $200,000 Powerball prize from the May 16 drawing.

The win comes at a good time for everyone, since the manufacturing company recently cut most employees’ schedules down to 30 hours per week in April due to the sluggish economy.   

The group has been pooling their money for Powerball tickets for a couple of years, buying tickets when the jackpot reaches more than $50 million. Each group member contributes $1 per drawing ($2 per week) toward the pool. For Saturday’s drawing, group member Virginia Schulte bought 88 tickets using the money from the pool plus $10 in winnings from the previous drawing.

After checking the winning numbers the following morning, Schulte discovered one set of numbers matched the first five winning numbers (6-7-31-40-56, the Powerball was 38). “I had no idea how much we won. I thought it was around $100 or $200,” Schulte said. After calling her brother, who is an avid Powerball player, Schulte discovered its true worth — $200,000!

Group member Denise Vierstraete made the announcement to the group members on Monday morning through the intercom so everybody found out at the same time. “Everyone just screamed,” recalled Schulte. “They went wild!”

Each group member received a check for approximately $2,564 (before the required tax withholdings). Schulte says a lot of the group members plan to use their winnings to pay bills, put it toward savings, or for home improvement projects.

HiRel Systems’ Lottery Pool includes the following people: Amiret: Brenda Kemp; Arco: Nicole Heidecker; Balaton: Cheryl Meulebroeck; Boyd: Marie Marczak, Deanna Oellien; Canby: Karen Brogaard, Kora Denekamp, Jodeen Frank, Doreen Jelen, Beryl Kuester, Caroline Lacek, Floyd Lacek, Theresa MacArthur, Todd Stockman, Kelly Winter, Wanda Winter; Clarkfield: Lyndsey Faller; Cottonwood: Arlene VanHeuveln, Kimberly VanHeuveln, Wendy VanHeuveln; Garvin: Debra Brunes, Joanne Stevens; Gary, S.D: Karen Keimig; Ghent: Diana Byrne, Lori Head, Brooke Hennen, Denise Vierstraete; Ivanhoe: Cindy Eischens; Marshall: Donna Calvin, Melanie Hansen, Craig Heil, Marnita Lipinski, Karen MacDonald, Amy Magnuson, Michael Milbrath, Brenda Moat, Elizabeth Naber, DeEtt Ormberg, Sara Ormberg, Charlene Sanow,  Rebecca Simonsen, Michele Smentek, Brenda Swoboda, Sharon Verdeck; Minneota: Linda Boerboom, Matt Bottelberghe, Sandra DeVlaeminck, Donald Diedrich, Peggy Esping, Ryan Esping, Mary Jo Gillund, Pat Hebrank, Lori Jerzak, Timothy Koppien, Carmen Larson, Dianne Menken, Mary Narveson, Marge Obe, Sheree Obe, Deanna Prellwitz, Judy Ratajczak, Doreen Teigland, Russell Traen, Darin Yost; Porter: Brenda Alley, Karen Antony, Julie Noyes, Cynthia Schuler; Russell: Pam Van Overbeke; St. Leo: Barb Natte; Taunton: Loretta Eischens, Nancy Kockelman, Jim Pesch, Shelly Winter; Tyler: Gail Newell, Virginia Schulte, Diane Sik, Randy Studemann.

Chandler Co-op/Cenex, located at 217 – 8th Ave. S.E. in Pipestone, sold the winning ticket.

A $200,000 Powerball prize from the drawing on April 29, 2009 (sold in Stearns County) has not yet been claimed. Players have one year from the date of the drawing to claim all prizes.

Powerball is the multi-state lotto game that offers players nine ways to win. Players select five numbers from 1 to 59 and a Powerball, from 1 to 39. The jackpot is won by matching all five numbers plus the Powerball. Approximate odds of winning a cash prize are 1 in 35.1 and approximately 1 in 195.2 million to win the jackpot.

For an extra $1 per Powerball play, players can purchase the Power Play® option to multiply their prizes (except the jackpot) by two, three, four or five times. A Power Play wheel randomly draws the Power Play number before the winning Powerball numbers are drawn. Players can win up to $1 million with Power Play.

Check for Lotto Games winning numbers and unclaimed prizes information. Players can also get winning numbers 24 hours a day by calling (651) 634-1111.

Lottery players must be 18 years of age or older. Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know needs help with a gambling problem, call (800) 333-HOPE.

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling (651) 635-8273. TTY users should dial (651) 635-8268 or (800) 657-3833.

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