A day of remembrance has likely turned into an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend for somebody either living in or passing through Niles in the past week. One lucky Michigan Lottery player is walking around with a winning $1-million ticket from Friday night's Mega Millions Lottery drawing, purchased at a party store on Huntly Road in Niles.
The lucky ticket holder matched the five white balls drawn in the lottery bearing the numbers 18-41-50-68-and-70. That ticket is valued at $1-million, and was purchased at the Sunrise Sunset Party Store at 1009 Huntly Road in Niles.
Whoever that $1 million winner from Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is, should contact the Michigan Lottery Public Relations Division at (517) 373-1237 to schedule an appointment to collect the big prize. The prize must be claimed at the Lottery’s headquarters in Lansing. Tickets for Mega Millions are valid for one year from the drawing date.
While the Niles player didn't win the biggest prize of the night, nobody else did, either, leaving open the option for a Michigan Lottery player to head out on a permanent vacation if they win tonight’s $235 million Mega Millions jackpot. The cash option for tonight’s jackpot is $153 million.
The $235 million jackpot is the largest Mega Millions jackpot in 2016. In January, one ticket purchased in New York matched the five white balls and Mega ball to win a $169 million jackpot.
The last Michigan player to win the Mega Millions jackpot was Kelsey Zachow, of Port Huron. Zachow won the game’s $66 million jackpot in June 2014.
If a Michigan player win’s tonight’s $235 million jackpot, it would be the largest Mega Millions prize won in the state. On April 22, 2005, a Port Huron couple, Ralph and Mary Stebbins, won $208 million.
Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $1. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a “Megaplier” that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Tickets for Mega Millions drawings may be purchased at the Lottery’s 11,000 retailers around the state until 10:45 p.m. the day of the drawing.
About 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In the 2015 fiscal year, the Lottery’s contribution to Michigan’s public schools was $795.5 million. Since it began in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $19.6 billion to education in Michigan. For additional information, follow the Michigan Lottery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and online at www.michiganlottery.com.
