Players from eastern and western NC win big for second time

Who says lightning can't strike twice? For two big winners this week, lottery luck showed up again.

Is the mountain community of Horse Shoe a lucky one? Ivan Gilbert, a self-employed painter from the small town, won $100,000 playing Super Lucky 7's in May 2012. This week, he bought a $120 Million Cash ticket - and scratched off $1 million. “I was standing there looking at it,” Gilbert recalled after realizing he won. “I called my wife and started crying. It’s just amazing. I never thought I’d win the first time, now here I am again. This really helps make life easier.”

The second returning winner from this week is Robert Merritt of Roanoke Rapids. After winning $500,000 instantly in January 2010, this week he scratched off a $4,000,000 Gold Bullion ticket and won $100,000. With the prize money he won in 2010, Merritt was able to invest in his industrial piping company. Now retired, he says he will share some of his $69,203 in after-tax winnings with his three sons and take a vacation somewhere with his wife.

A third big winner, this time from Granite Falls, came in to collect a $1 million prize this week. Jonathan Osborne, a small business owner, was on his way home from work last Friday afternoon when he stopped to purchase gas and a few lottery tickets. After he finished pumping his gas, he said he sat in his truck and scratched off the top prize in The Color of Money game. He plans to use his winnings to save for his daughters’ education and take his family to Disney World.

The week’s final big winner is Cory Mcneill, a carpenter from Erwin. He plans to use the $110,832 jackpot he won playing Carolina Cash 5 on Thursday night to jump start his carpentry business and pay off his mortgage.

In all, lottery players across the state won $16.4 million playing instant games and more than $3.2 million playing draw games, totaling more than $19.6 million in prizes. Twenty prizes won or awarded were worth between $10,000 and $53,732. The winners, games they played and the stores where they bought their tickets are:

Christopher Shoenfeld of Asheboro: $10,000 (Jan. 29 Powerball)
Quality Mart on N.C. 68 North in Oak Ridge

Larry Clegg of Biscoe: $53,732 (July 21 Cash 5)
Quik Chek on North Main Street in Troy

Jeraldine Collins of Chadbourn: $50,000 (Junior Big Ol' Bucks)
Sam's Pit Stop on Strawberry Boulevard in Chadbourn

Larry Doster of Charlotte: $53,732 (July 21 Cash 5)
Murphy USA on Caldwell Farm Road in Belmont

Miguel Gamez of Charlotte: $10,000 (July 19 Powerball)
Lottery Food Mart on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte

Jim Xiong of Claremont: $10,000 (50X The Cash)
Murphy USA on N.C. 16 in Conover

Michelle Austin of Edenton: $10,000 (July 19 Powerball)
Duck Thru Food Store on Rocky Hock Road in Edenton

Willie Murphy of Fayetteville: $10,000 ($120 Million Cash)
Kangaroo Express on Ireland Drive in Fayetteville

Joel Kiger of Greensboro: $10,000 ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
Circle K on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro

La'Trel Henderson of Henderson: $10,000 (White Hot 5's)
Old Currins Mini Mart on West Andrews Avenue in Henderson

Albert Faulkner of Leasburg: $10,000 (Golden 7's)
Threepoint Grocery & Grill on N.C. 86 South in Prospect Hill

John Majcher of Mill Spring: $10,000 (Millionaire 7's)
Ingles Kiosk on N.C. 9 in Lake Lure

Robert McGregor of Raeford: $53,732 (July 21 Cash 5)
Fast Shop Food Mart on West Prospect Avenue in Raeford

Mario Oramas of Rural Hall: $50,000 (Junior Big Ol' Bucks)
Friends Mart on N.C. 66 South in King

James Cruse of Salisbury: $50,000 (July 16 Cash 5)
Murphy Express Freeland Drive in Salisbury

Richard and Helen Morgan of Sneads Ferry: $10,000 (July 16 Powerball)
C-Check on Old Folkstone Road in Sneads Ferry

Alice Stewart of West End: $50,000 (Casino Crossword)
Kangaroo Express on U.S. 15-501 in Carthage

Arturo Varela of Wilmington: $10,000 ($2,500 a Week for Life!)
Scotchman on Eastwood Road in Wilmington

Karen Poole of Youngsville: $30,000 (Quick Silver!)
Sheetz on U.S. 1 in Youngsville

Until next time, we hope everyon has a fun and safe weekend. See you soon here in the Lucke-Zone.