Ten women who have been pooling their money to buy lottery tickets for about eight years finally have something to show for it -- $175,000.
The women, who call themselves The Millionaire's Club of Jackson, matched five numbers in the Aug. 15 drawing of Mega Millions, lottery officials announced Tuesday. The group didn't match the Gold Mega Ball number, which would have given them the $12 million jackpot.
"I started jumping up and down with excitement when I discovered we had really won," Della Swartz of Pleasant Lake, the club's representative, told lottery officials. "We are all so excited and happy to win."
After taxes -- a 4 percent state tax and 25 percent federal tax -- each person received about $12,250. They purchased the easy-pick ticket at Meijer, 3333 E. Michigan Ave.
The women claimed their prize Aug. 20 at the lottery headquarters in Lansing. They told lottery officials they plan to use the money to pay bills, buy a car, purchase a boat, make home improvements and invest for the future.
The club members have been friends for nearly 20 years. In addition to Swartz, other members are Diane Bradley, Debbie Cogan, Denise Cotton, Lori Ann Davis, Debbie Ann Nelson and Linda Tincher, all of Jackson; Pamela Berkeypile of Horton; Teresa Louise Rudd of Michigan Center; and Susan Marie VanCamp of Haslett.
8 years?! They played f