Avoca man wins $250K in lottery
BY SARAH GROSSMAN THE LEADER

AVOCA - A lucky Avoca man was the winner of $250,000 in the Mega Millions lottery game.

Robert S. Morgan purchased his winning ticket at the Avoca Country Market July 27 on Main Street for Friday's Mega Millions drawing. He returned to the store Satruday, July 28, to verify that he had a winning ticket.

Morgan was one of two second-place winners across the country in Friday's Mega Millions drawing. The other was in Massachusetts. There was no winner drawn for the top prize, which has grown to $65 million for Tuesday's drawing.

Morgan matched the first five numbers drawn Friday: 7, 12, 35, 54 and 55. He missed only the sixth number, the "Mega Ball" number needed to win the top prize of $55 million, which was 2.

"It is wonderful to see someone from our area win something," said Mike Robbins, owner of the Avoca Country Market, of Morgan's good fortune.

Robbins said Morgan comes into his store a few times a week to get lottery tickets.

"I am just really glad for him," Robbins added.

Morgan did not immediately return a message left by The Leader on Saturday.

The winning tickets sold in New York are posted on the New York Lottery's Web site, www.nylottery.org

Mega Millions is the largest multi-state lottery in the country, according to www.megamillions.com. Tickets, which cost $1 apiece, are sold in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Jackpots for Mega Millions start at $12 million, and other prizes range from $2 to $250,000.

In March, Mega Millions set a record with a jackpot of $390 million. There were two winning tickets, sold in New Jersey and Georgia.