Created: 12/31/2009 3:47:46 PM 
Raleigh, NC-- John Luffman is ringing in the new year a $1 million winner. The Asheboro man bought a $200 Million Extravaganza ticket at the Food Lion on Pointe South Drive in Randleman. He told NCEL officials that, after scratching off the $1 million prize, he had to look at the ticket "a half dozen times" to make sure he had really won. The instant win is not the first for Luffman. In January 2008, he claimed a $10,000 prize on a $100 Million Cash Spectacular ticket.
Luffman's $1 million prize will be paid as an annuity in $50,000 payments for the next 20 years. He has already received his first check which had an after-tax value of $34,006. Luffman said that the win is still sinking in and that he plans to contribute some of his winnings to charity.
After scratching off a $100,000 instant prize on the "Woooooo!" ticket, Thomas H. Donaldson might be overheard saying exactly that this New Year's Eve. The Clover, SC man purchased his winning ticket at the Times Turnaround on New Hope Road in Gastonia. He told NCEL officials that, after putting most of the prize money into savings, he and his wife plan to go on a cruise. Donaldson also said a portion of his winnings, which were $68,001 after taxes, are set aside for his children and grandchildren.
Last night's Powerball drawing yielded three big-winning tickets that were sold in NC! Elsie Darity of Franklinville Power-Played her way to $30,000 after matching four white balls and the Powerball. She purchased her winning ticket at Charles Place on Main Street in Randleman. The other two tickets have yet to be submitted for claim. A $200,000 ticket that matched all five white balls was sold at the Food Lion on West William Street in Apex. The third big-winning ticket, sold at the Food Lion at Westwood Shopping Center in Fayetteville, is worth $10,000 after it matched four white balls and the Powerball.
A total of 33,613 North Carolina Powerball players won prizes in the Wednesday, Dec. 30 Powerball drawing ranging from $3 to $200,000 for a total payout in prizes worth $471,904. Because no tickets matched all five white balls and the Powerball, the jackpot for the Saturday, Jan 2 Powerball drawing is an estimated $25 million.
NCEL
