4/27/2007 - 8:44 PM

Lottery Names Newest Millionaire at Live After Five Event

$1,000,000 Spectacular Drawing winner, Wyatt Newton (center), is pictured with his mother, Gay Newton (right), and Lottery President Rose Hudson (left).

On stage in front of screaming Live After Five fans and his family, Wyatt James Newton became a millionaire in the Louisiana Lottery's  $1,000,000 Spectacular Second-Chance Drawing.
 
The 26- year-old Blountstown, Fla., resident was in Louisiana working for a telecommunications company following Hurricane Katrina when he decided to purchase a few $1,000,000 Spectacular scratch-off tickets at Jubilee #4814 in Slidell. When he didn't win an instant prize, he mailed them to the Lottery to enter the second-chance drawing.
 
On April 4, five finalists were selected randomly from more than 250,000 entries to compete in the $1,000,000 Spectacular Second-Chance Drawing which took place tonight during intermission at the free Live After Five concert in downtown Baton Rouge. Newton's name was selected as the $1 million winner.
 
With his winnings, Newton said he plans to purchase a home and three dump trucks to start his own business. He also said he plans to send his parents on a trip to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
 
Newton decided on the lump sum prize payment option of $670,000 and received a check for $469,000 after federal and state taxes were withheld.
 
Even before the drawing, his family said they knew he was going to win. "He told me he was going to win and he did!" said his mother, Gay Newton, with tears in her eyes after watching her son's name drawn as the top prize winner.
 
The other second-chance drawing finalists, who each won $5,000, were Valrie Blalock, age 74, of St. Augustine, Fla.; Shelia M. Bernard-Charles, age 45, of Lafayette; Joseph Miller, age 25, of Lake Charles; and Kelly Danna, age 40, of Independence.
 
The Lottery reminds those who enjoy its games to do so responsibly and that help for problem gambling is available by calling the toll-free helpline 1-877-770-7867.

$1,000,000 Spectacular Drawing host, Lottery Communications Manager Kimberly Chopin, is pictured with Live After Five host and WAFB anchor, Avery Davidson.