Expiring $1 million ticket, Cash 5 winner top week's headlines

The biggest news of the week is the $1 million Powerball ticket set to expire unless the winner comes forward by 5 p.m. Monday. We truly hope to meet the winner. If we don't, half the money will benefit education and the other half will go back into the prize pool that North Carolina players can win in the future.

Before we get to the biggest winners of the week, a quick reminder about the exclusive drawings you can currently enter here in the Lucke-Zone:

- $25,000 Celebration Cash is the monthly drawing for July. The entry deadline is July 31.

- The sixth "X The Cash" promotion drawing is coming up with a chance to win up to $50,000. That entry deadline is also July 31.

- The Panthers ticket giveaway will award a set of two lower level tickets to see every Carolina Panthers regular season home game. The entry deadline is Aug. 2.

- The Five for $500 entry deadline is Sunday, July 26.

Remember, we can only announce winners' names after they respond to notification and complete the claim process. Winners are typically notified by e-mail within 48 hours of the drawing date. If we don't hear back, we will call by phone and, if necessary, send certified mail.

OK, now on to this week's big winners. The largest prize went to Winston-Salem resident Shirley Mathis who won the $172,673 jackpot in the July 14 Carolina Cash 5 drawing.

Three players won $50,000 prizes:

- Allen Carter of Black Mountain (Lucky 7 Slingo)
- Ellen Lovelace of Forest City (Jumbo Bucks)
- Reginald McNeil of Raleigh (50X The Cash)

Two players, Perfecto Figueroa of Cary and Opal Adams of Waynesville, won $30,000 apiece playing Double Match.

Eight players scratched their way to $10,000 prizes:

- John Miller of Chapel Hill ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
- Brenda Chapple of Grifton ($2,500 a Week for Life!)
- Marsuenique Jenkins of Hickory (50X The Cash)
- Kathy Thornton of Princeton (Diamonds and Dollars)
- Reginald McNeil of Raleigh (50X The Cash)
- Karla McGary of Tarboro ($200 Million Blowout)
- Willie Williams of Thomasville ($200 Million Blowout)
- George White of Wilson (20X The Cash)

Thanks for reading, thanks for playing and - until next time - good luck!