Cash 5 jackpots won in mountain, sandhill regions

Lonnie Daniels Sr. was sitting on the steps outside his house. Michael Heckert was making coffee. When you've got a lottery ticket, you never know when the usual could become extraordinary.

Daniels' wife wondered what was going on when she heard her husband's excitement. He had scratched off the top prize on a $500 Frenzy ticket. The Greenville man bought his lucky ticket at the Country Fare Store on Barrus Construction Road. Since the Frenzy games began July 4, players have won more than $1.4 million in $500 prizes. There is still more than $4.8 million in $500 prizes in the game.

As the coffee pot gurgled, Michael Heckert of Hamlet checked the lottery app on his smartphone to see if any of his Powerball numbers were lucky in the July 15 drawing. Turns out he matched four out of five white balls and the Powerball. And, because he Power Played his ticket and the multiplier was 2X, he won $100,000. Heckert bought his winning ticket at the ALCO on East Spring Street.

Two Cash 5 jackpot winners came forward to collect their winnings. Son Nguyen of Asheville won $237,843 in the July 12 drawing. He bought his winning ticket at the Citistop on Biltmore Avenue. Ruby Nell Woods of Fayetteville used her grandkids' ages as inspiration to choose her numbers for the July 15 drawing. She got her lucky ticket at the Circle K on McArthur Road.

Seth Manning of Jamesville won the final top prize of $150,000 in the Crossword Connect scratch-off game. He bought the winning ticket at the New Dixie Mart on U.S. 17 in Williamston.

Three players claimed $50,000 each in prize money. Two won playing Powerball. Augosto Ramirez of Raleigh won in the June 10 drawing and Robert Fauler of Indian Trail won in the July 1 drawing. J. Jesus Bustamante of Hendersonville won his $50,000 prize on a 50X The Cash ticket.

Eight players scratched their way to $10,000:

- Grant Hurrell of Lexington ($5,000,000 Mega Cash)
- Deedee Greene of Durham ($200,000 Taxes Paid)
- Rosa York of Advance ($1,000,000 Taxes Paid)
- Beverly Hooker of Eden ($1,000,000 Taxes Paid)
- Christopher Deal of Sanford ($2,500 Frenzy)
- Misti Angell of Kernersville ($2,500 a Week for Life!)
- Michael Mosley of Fayetteville ($5,000,000 Mega Cash)
- Larry Schronce of Hickory ($5,000,000 Mega Cash)

Andre Woods of Greensboro won the top prize of $7,000 on a $1 Lucky 7's ticket.

Ten prizes of $5,000 were awarded. Two of the winners were from Charlotte and two others were from Greensboro. The six remaining went to players from Randleman, Burlington, Ruffin, Kernersville, Ramseur, and Marion.

We're cruising toward the last full week of July. Remember there are five promotions you can take advantage of through the end of the month.

Until next time - stay cool and hydrated with these triple-digit temperatures - and have a fun, safe weekend!