Powerball producing big wins

North Carolinians, trying their luck at a huge Powerball jackpot, won seven other big prizes ranging from $50,000 to $1 million.

The $1 million win happened in Wednesday’s drawing and left an Asheville retiree, Carroll Swayngim feeling like he was “walking through a dream.”

“All along you think about winning something like this,” he said. “That’s the goal. But the most I’ve ever won before was $100.” He bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket at the Enmark Station on Tunnel Road in Asheville.

Swayngim said the win means he can pay all his bills, including his mortgage, help out his two sons, and save more for a better retirement. As for fun, he said, “This may turn into an extra trip or two to Myrtle Beach.”

Two North Carolinians won $100,000 Powerball prizes with $3 Power Play tickets. Louise Sauls of Wilmington bought her lucky ticket at the Gas Center on South College Road in Wilmington and won in the July 30th drawing. David Nielsen of Elkin won in the July 27th drawing with a ticket purchased at Four Brothers Food Store in N.C. 67 in Jonesville and he said his prize will help him pay some bills.

Three $50,000 Powerball prizes from the July 30th drawing were also claimed. One went to To Nga Nguyen of Greenville; one was shared by John Dooley of Raeford and Tanja Phillips of Raeford; and the third went to Matthew Griffin of Greensboro. Leon Shepard of Linden claimed a $50,000 prize from the July 27th Powerball drawing.

For the seventh time, a Lucky for Life ticket in North Carolina won the $25,000 A Year For Life prize. A grandmother from Canton, Brenda McCannon, took the lump sum payment of $390,000 rather than the lifetime annuity. She said she wanted to buy a van big enough to haul around her 15 grandchildren. She bought her lucky $2 Quick Pick ticket at Lankfords Grocery on North Main Street in Canton.

If you’re a Powerball player who would like to give Lucky For Life a try, you can get a free Lucky For Life ticket whenever you make an $8 Powerball purchase on a single ticket. The promotion continues until Sept. 10. The top prize in the Lucky For Life game is $1,000 A Day For Life.

Let’s move on to Carolina Cash 5 game where two jackpots got claimed.

Robert and Edna Sullivan of Williamston won a $267,050 jackpot from the Wednesday, July 27 drawing with a ticket purchased at the Duck Thru Food Store on West 5th Street in Washington, N.C. They said they would be taking their 11 grandkids to Disney with the prize money, just like they had always promised.

A father and daughter from Onslow County, Nasir Donuk and Gonul Nazari, both of Swansboro, shared the $209,024 jackpot from the Tuesday, Aug. 2 drawing. They purchased a Quick Pick ticket from the Food Lion on West Corbett Avenue in Swansboro.

Draw games didn’t produce the only big wins last week.
 
Carolyn Rice of Weaverville won $750,000 playing Jumbo Bucks with a ticket she purchased at Stanley’s Citgo on Weaverville Highway in Asheville.
 
Just two days after the new Carolina Panthers ticket went on sale, Charlene Lewis of Wadesboro claimed the first $200,000 top prize in the game with a ticket purchased at the Quik Check on Albemarle Road in Troy. She said she planned to use some of the money to go on a cruise and save the rest.

And Debra Taylor of Spindale won $100,000 playing the Crossword Money Multiplier game. She said she would use the money to pay bills and do some home improvements. Her lucky ticket was purchased at Deb’s Mini Mart on East Main Street in Spindale.
 
Other big instant games wins included a $50,000 prize to James Thorne of Rocky Mount in the Junior Big Ol’ Bucks game; a $50,000 prize to Thomas Collins of Asheville in the $50,000 Bonus Cash game; and a $20,000 win for Paula Hunter of Durham in the Carolina Black game.
 
The Ruby Red 7’s game handed out $10,000 wins to Carol Crowder of Matthews, Austin Nolen of Belmont, and Chester Poe of Durham. Other $10,000 wins were Teresa Bostic of Shelby, $400,000 Bonus Cash; Bryce Ford of Greensboro, Platinum 7’s; Valentin Hernandez of Millers Creek, $1,000,000 Bonus Cash; and Kevin Horne of Stedman, $1,000,000 Bonus Cash.
 
Twelve more North Carolinians won $5,000 instant prizes, including two players from Durham. The other 10 players were from Ayden, Charlotte, Fuquay-Varina, Gastonia, Greensboro, Kings Mountain, Jacksonville, Lumberton, Marshville, and Taylorsville.

Good luck this week.