There's a Lucky New Millionaire

PAWTUCKET — In the midst of hard economic times, a trip to a Woodlawn store appears to have made a millionaire out of one person — though he or she has yet to reap the reward.

According to a Rhode Island Lottery statement, a winning ticket for Wednesday night's $94.7 million PowerBall jackpot drawing was sold at the Li'l General Store at 600 Main St.

As of press time, however, the winner's identity was not known, as no one had come forward to claim their prize, which came to a grand total of $1 million.

The prize would have been a “mere” $200,000, but the patron plunked down an extra buck for the lottery's Power Play feature. Thanks to that extra purchase, the winnings were multiplied five times, to a total of $1 million.

Reached by phone on Thursday afternoon, however, a Li'l General employee said they had not heard about anyone purchasing a winning ticket out of their location.

The Rhode Island Lottery statement indicated that Wednesday's drawing yielded two other winners, each of whom won $200,000. Both of those winning tickets were apparently sold at Paul's Shell on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston. According to the Rhode Island Lottery statement, each winner managed to match five numbers, but not the PowerBall number.

According to information published on the Rhode Island Lottery Web site, nine lottery prizes valued over $10,000 apiece had not been claimed as of May 1, with the earliest of winnings having been drawn on May 7, 2008. That winning ticket had been purchased at Sam's Food Store, located on Eddie Dowling Highway in North Smithfield. Winning tickets are valid for one year. Presuming the North Smithfield winner did not come forward by yesterday’s deadline, the prize will have been forfeited.

Two other such unclaimed prizes had been won in Pawtucket, the Lottery site said. One was reportedly purchased at Fox Grocery on Benefit Street and drawn on Feb. 29. The other was purchased at Borderline Liquors on Newport Avenue and drawn on January 9, 2009. According to the Lottery site, all of the aforementioned unclaimed prizes were valued at $10,000.

ref. Pawtucket Times