10/25/2005 - 12:00 AM

Gray Resident Claims Powerball Bonus Prize

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Granger Jr. are pictured after claiming $853,492 from the Match 5 Bonus Prize Pool for the Oct. 19 Powerball drawing

Clarence Granger Jr. of Gray won $200,000 for matching the five numbers, plus and additional $653,492 from the first-ever Match 5 Bonus prize pool. After state and federal taxes were withheld, Gray received $597,444.40.

He purchased his winning ticket at Fast Stop Food and Gas on W. Main Street in Gray. The retailer will receive $8,534.92 or one percent of the total Match 5 prize, as a bonus incentive for selling the winning ticket.

A winning Match 5 ticket purchased in Shreveport remained unclaimed as of Tuesday.

The winning numbers from the Oct. 19 Powerball drawing were 7-21-43-44-49 and the Powerball number was 29. Steve West of Medford, Oregon matched all the numbers and won the $340 million Powerball jackpot.

Forty-six other ticket purchasers nationwide also won $200,000 and an additional $653,492 from the $32 million Match 5 Bonus prize pool.

Added to Powerball in 2002, the Match 5 Bonus prize feature pays a bonus to players who match the five white ball numbers but do not correctly match the red Powerball number when a new record Powerball jackpot is established.

Lottery President Randy Davis noted that persons must be at least 21 years old to purchase a Lottery ticket. He also reminded players that anyone who has a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem are encouraged to call toll-free 1-877-770-7867 for help.