Players from 19 towns and cities win $10,000 to $1 million

As we often say in the comments, winning a lottery prize is only one of many reasons to celebrate in life. This weekend, for example, college students are becoming college graduates and families and friends are taking time to recognize moms for all that they are.

With that perspective in mind, some lucky lottery players did have cause for celebration leading into this special weekend.

A New Yorker happened to buy a $150,000-winning White Hot 5's game while visiting Fayetteville. Ahmed Hassan is the first player to win the top prize playing the new White Hot 5's game that started Tuesday. With his win, four more $150,000 prizes are still in the game.

A Richmond County woman hit the jackpot playing Carolina Cash 5. April Thompson, a homemaker from Rockingham, won $346,049 in the May 2 drawing. “When I found out I had won on Saturday morning I couldn’t stop screaming and hollering,” Thompson said. “It was just amazing. I’m so excited, but it still hasn’t quite hit me that it’s real.” With the winnings, Thompson plans to buy her first home and take her family on a cruise.

Good luck to the tune of $1 million came this week to a player in Caldwell County. Raseane Denny of Lenoir is the second player to win the $1 million top prize in the Millionaire 7’s game. He purchased the lucky ticket at the Fast Track on Southwest Morganton Boulevard in Lenoir. Eight $1 million prizes remain to be claimed in the $10 game.

Whoe else won big this week? Among them are three as yet unknown Cash 5 players who split Thursday's $251,571 jackpot. The tickets, worth $83,857 apiece, were sold at: The Spring Hope Fresh Fair on North Louisburg Road in Spring Hope; the Kangaroo Express on North Homer Boulevard in Sanford; and the Lockland Citgo on Lockland Avenue in Winston-Salem.

Two other Carolina Cash 5 players claimed jackpot winnings this week. Paul Bell of Gastonia won the $50,000 jackpot in the May 3 drawing and Milad Hanna of Charlotte won $74,023 in the April 26 drawing.

A pair of players won big prizes chasing multimillion dollar jackpots. Joseph Amorellof of Rutherfordton won $10,000 in the April 26 Powerball drawing and Eugene Harris of Knightdale Megaplied his way to $25,000 in the May 2 drawing.

Eleven players scratched their way to $10,000 prizes this week. They are:

• William Batts of Clayton (Millionaire 7’s)
• Jack Garner of Valdese ($2,500 a Week for Life!)
  
• Mary Huffman of Fairmont ($2,500 a Week for Life!)
  
• Judy Hughes of Connelly Springs (50X The Cash)
  
• Sylvester Norman of Battleboro ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
  
• Alejandra Olvera of Raleigh (Millionaire 7’s)
  
• Ruth Reavis of King (Millionaire 7’s)
  
• Roger Tilley of Westfield (Millionaire 7’s)
  
• Timothy Weadon of Blanch ($120 Million Cash)
  
• Brian Weaver of Statesville ($200,000 Grant)
  
• Terry Whisenant of Glen Alpine ($120 Million Cash)
  

Other instant winners include Charlotte resident Soboh Davies won $20,000 on a $4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular ticket and Shandrika Keyes of Blounts Creek scooped up $25,000 playing Scoop The Cash.

Two players won $50,000 instantly this week. Cynthia Upchurch of Fayetteville won playing Super Loteria and a Red Line Crossword Tripler ticket spelled $50,000 for Artan Frasheri of Winston-Salem.

In all, folks who tried their luck this week won more than $22.3 million.

Whatever you have planned this weekend, we hope you enjoy it. Until next time, take care, and see you soon here in the Lucke-Zone.