The Virginia Lottery has reported a winner in its Lotto South jackpot game. The winning $4 million ticket, which was sold near the North Carolina border, has yet to be claimed. Could someone have the winning ticket and not know it?
News of the unclaimed ticket spread like wildfire through Uppy's Store in Bracey. It been a few weeks since the winning Lotto South ticket number, 02-03-06-21-39-42, was sold there.
"I'm kind of in a daze, because I thought you'd be checking every day to see if you've got the winning ticket so you could come in and say, 'I got the ticket that's worth $4 million,'" said Uppy's clerk Lisa Shelenberger.
There's no rush for the winner to step forward. Under Virginia Lottery rules, the person with the winning number has until August to claim the prize.
The store sells more lottery tickets than sandwiches, ice cream and gasoline. But the big question is, "Where is that winning ticket?"
"There's a lot of different things that could have happened," said Shelenberger. "Maybe somebody else bought the ticket. It could have gotten thrown away. It could be stuck in somebody's car."
Or maybe it's just sitting on someone's kitchen counter.
"I ain't checked my tickets yet," said Shawn Thompson of Norlina. "I've got to go home and check my ticket."
Like Thompson, many lottery ticket players are double checking those Lotto South ticket numbers. That second look could be worth $4 million.
The Virginia Lottery Commission turned over $423 million in proceeds to the public school system last year. Ticket sales from Uppy's Store in Bracey accounted for $2.6 million.
I agree with both of you, especially mylollipop. I'd need a few weeks just to calm down. In fact, I'm always surprised whenever someone shows up at Lottery Headquarters on Monday morning after a Saturday night win without getting any financial advice. I'm also surprised there are articles like this only a few weeks after the drawing when a winner has so much time, although if too much time goes by he is losing a lot of interest. Maybe it's just to warn people in case the winner really doesn't have a clue, which happens a lot. In Florida a winner has to claim the prize within 60 days or is forced to take the annuity. That hardly gives a person enough time to put together a plan. I definitely would want to move before my name got in the paper.
Should I assume that a store gets its bonus for selling the winning ticket whether or not it is claimed? Or do they need to wait until the winner comes forward? It doesn't mention anything at all about the store's share of the prize, so I'm not sure if Lotto South pays one..just assuming it does.
I agree with both of you, especially mylollipop. I'd need a few weeks just to calm down. In fact, I'm always surprised whenever someone shows up at Lottery Headquarters on Monday morning after a Saturday night win without getting any financial advice. I'm also surprised there are articles like this only a few weeks after the drawing when a winner has so much time, although if too much time goes by he is losing a lot of interest. Maybe it's just to warn people in case the winner really doesn't have a clue, which happens a lot. In Florida a winner has to claim the prize within 60 days or is forced to take the annuity. That hardly gives a person enough time to put together a plan. I definitely would want to move before my name got in the paper.
Should I assume that a store gets its bonus for selling the winning ticket whether or not it is claimed? Or do they need to wait until the winner comes forward? It doesn't mention anything at all about the store's share of the prize, so I'm not sure if Lotto South pays one..just assuming it does.
HAPPY SATURDAY "JUST"....2/11/2006
Although I can appreciate your Posting....there is only so much my nerves could stand....I'd 1st see my Attorney, ask him to contact the Lottery Headquarters and notify my Bank, and a Financial Advisor.... then drive over that day to recv/my PRIZE...The next day, I would begin the process of Calming down.
Simply because, I couldn't get any r & r, knowing that so much $$$$$$$$ was waiting for me. It's just too good to be true....The longer I have to think about it, the more nervous I'd become. The sooner I collect, I can sit down, with a ' dry raspberry martini' Planning the 'BIG PARTY ' the calmer, and happier I would become. I don't care who knows I won.lolololololol
Although I can appreciate your Posting....there is only so much my nerves could stand....I'd 1st see my Attorney, ask him to contact the Lottery Headquarters and notify my Bank, and a Financial Advisor.... then drive over that day to recv/my PRIZE...The next day, I would begin the process of Calming down." libra926
I wish you a lot of luck and hope you invite me to that BIG PARTY you're planning. In all honesty, I wouldn't have one, although I'd suddenly have a lot of new friends! As I've said before, I'd probably try to act "normal" and quietly move away to start a new life.
As I've said in the past. The basic process has already been worked out - on paper and in my mind. In NJ, they keep the money for 30-days to do checks against criminals and dead-beat dads, etc. That is lost interest; lost money. So, my waiting only adds to the loss. Use the keyboard, now, to find the bank you like. Let them handle the transfer and the advising. They do that for a living, and have an interest in you making a profit; they get paid from the profit! I am less than an hour for the Banking Capital of America - New York City. It would be more trouble getting a limo driver to take credit then to find an expert banker.
Although I can appreciate your Posting....there is only so much my nerves could stand....I'd 1st see my Attorney, ask him to contact the Lottery Headquarters and notify my Bank, and a Financial Advisor.... then drive over that day to recv/my PRIZE...The next day, I would begin the process of Calming down." libra926
I wish you a lot of luck and hope you invite me to that BIG PARTY you're planning. In all honesty, I wouldn't have one, although I'd suddenly have a lot of new friends! As I've said before, I'd probably try to act "normal" and quietly move away to start a new life.
Hi "JUST"........2/13/2006
WELL....you are officially on my Party list.......I'd be happy to have you and many others come. After the "BIG PARTY".......I'll slink into obscurity.....
Or they might be getting their affairs in order. Seeking financial advice... Congrats winner! Now let's hear it for the 250 mil
i think it was won by someone out of state.......
I agree with both of you, especially mylollipop. I'd need a few weeks just to calm down. In fact, I'm always surprised whenever someone shows up at Lottery Headquarters on Monday morning after a Saturday night win without getting any financial advice. I'm also surprised there are articles like this only a few weeks after the drawing when a winner has so much time, although if too much time goes by he is losing a lot of interest. Maybe it's just to warn people in case the winner really doesn't have a clue, which happens a lot. In Florida a winner has to claim the prize within 60 days or is forced to take the annuity. That hardly gives a person enough time to put together a plan. I definitely would want to move before my name got in the paper.
Should I assume that a store gets its bonus for selling the winning ticket whether or not it is claimed? Or do they need to wait until the winner comes forward? It doesn't mention anything at all about the store's share of the prize, so I'm not sure if Lotto South pays one..just assuming it does.
I agree with both of you, especially mylollipop. I'd need a few weeks just to calm down. In fact, I'm always surprised whenever someone shows up at Lottery Headquarters on Monday morning after a Saturday night win without getting any financial advice. I'm also surprised there are articles like this only a few weeks after the drawing when a winner has so much time, although if too much time goes by he is losing a lot of interest. Maybe it's just to warn people in case the winner really doesn't have a clue, which happens a lot. In Florida a winner has to claim the prize within 60 days or is forced to take the annuity. That hardly gives a person enough time to put together a plan. I definitely would want to move before my name got in the paper.
Should I assume that a store gets its bonus for selling the winning ticket whether or not it is claimed? Or do they need to wait until the winner comes forward? It doesn't mention anything at all about the store's share of the prize, so I'm not sure if Lotto South pays one..just assuming it does.
Although I can appreciate your Posting....there is only so much my nerves could stand....I'd 1st see my Attorney, ask him to contact the Lottery Headquarters and notify my Bank, and a Financial Advisor.... then drive over that day to recv/my PRIZE...The next day, I would begin the process of Calming down.
Simply because, I couldn't get any r & r, knowing that so much $$$$$$$$ was waiting for me. It's just too good to be true....The longer I have to think about it, the more nervous I'd become. The sooner I collect, I can sit down, with a ' dry raspberry martini' Planning the 'BIG PARTY ' the calmer, and happier I would become. I don't care who knows I won.lolololololol
Although I can appreciate your Posting....there is only so much my nerves could stand....I'd 1st see my Attorney, ask him to contact the Lottery Headquarters and notify my Bank, and a Financial Advisor.... then drive over that day to recv/my PRIZE...The next day, I would begin the process of Calming down." libra926
I wish you a lot of luck and hope you invite me to that BIG PARTY you're planning. In all honesty, I wouldn't have one, although I'd suddenly have a lot of new friends! As I've said before, I'd probably try to act "normal" and quietly move away to start a new life.
As I've said in the past. The basic process has already been worked out - on paper and in my mind. In NJ, they keep the money for 30-days to do checks against criminals and dead-beat dads, etc. That is lost interest; lost money. So, my waiting only adds to the loss. Use the keyboard, now, to find the bank you like. Let them handle the transfer and the advising. They do that for a living, and have an interest in you making a profit; they get paid from the profit! I am less than an hour for the Banking Capital of America - New York City. It would be more trouble getting a limo driver to take credit then to find an expert banker.
Although I can appreciate your Posting....there is only so much my nerves could stand....I'd 1st see my Attorney, ask him to contact the Lottery Headquarters and notify my Bank, and a Financial Advisor.... then drive over that day to recv/my PRIZE...The next day, I would begin the process of Calming down." libra926
I wish you a lot of luck and hope you invite me to that BIG PARTY you're planning. In all honesty, I wouldn't have one, although I'd suddenly have a lot of new friends! As I've said before, I'd probably try to act "normal" and quietly move away to start a new life.
Hi "JUST"........2/13/2006
WELL....you are officially on my Party list.......I'd be happy to have you and many others come. After the "BIG PARTY".......I'll slink into obscurity.....
I bet whoever won will choose cash, they'll miss LS, and won't want to play Lose for Life.