Wegmans Powerball

Don Fair of Hampden Twp. cashes in his $4 lottery winnings with Marilyn Stoner, a customer service clerk at Wegmans.

(Barbara Miller)

Don Fair of Hampden Twp. came to Wegmans yesterday to scan his Powerball ticket with a few winning numbers, but hadn't heard there had been a $2 million winning ticket sold at the store.

“I won $4,” he said. “It’s the second time in a row I’ve won $4.”

When learning of the $2 million Powerball winner, Fair said, "I congratulate them and wish them well." If he won that much, Fair said he'd "help my family and buy a few things."

Word was quickly spreading about the winning ticket sold at Wegmans.

“It’s the first big winner for this store I’m aware of,” said manager Bob Finn.

Clerks at Wegmans customer service desk are eager to learn which of them may have sold the winning ticket. “One of us did,” said employee Marilyn Stoner, “but we have no idea who.”

About a dozen people work at customer service, but others also help out, so it could have been one of about 20 people.

Stoner said they were selling more tickets than normal leading up to Wednesday’s drawing, as they always do when the jackpot grows.

“Well that’s exciting! Maybe it’ll motivate me to play,” said Shannon Foster of Mechanicsburg, upon hearing about the winning ticket at Wegmans. “I always talk about it,” she said of the lottery. “I should. It’s hard to win if you don’t play.”

Paul and Renee Moats of Camp Hill were surprised to learn there was a $2 million winning lottery ticket sold at Wegmans, but it wasn't them.

“Wow! I wish it was me,” said Renee Moats of Camp Hill at Wegmans. She said she often buys them, but elsewhere.

If she was a big winner, Renee said she’d contribute to the college funds of her 11 nieces and nephews. “And move someplace warm year-round,” added her husband, Paul Moats.

Geraldine Clark of Middlesex Twp. just bought a “Golden Goose” scratch-off lottery ticket at Wegmans, but it didn’t lay a golden egg for her this time. “Usually I don’t get anything but free tickets,” she said.

Geraldine Clark of Middlesex Twp., with husband Russell, shows her "Golden Goose" lottery ticket that wasn't a winner.

If they would win, her husband, Russell, said he’d probably give most of it away to help the poor. “What would I do with it?” he said, adding he doesn’t know how big winners handle the new-found wealth. “They get all kinds of friends they never had before,” he said.

“It’s always good to hear that someone local won,” said Carolyn Pittman of Mechanicsburg.

“Especially if it’s a relative,” added her husband, Bob Pittman. “Of course they’ll be out of town fast,” he joked.

“And it’s nice to know the store gets something too,” Carolyn said. She normally plays maybe once a month. “It makes me think I wish I had bought one,” she said.

“Wealth is in here,” Bob said, tapping his chest, “not in my wallet.”

One winning ticket for the $399.4 million Powerball jackpot was sold in Lexington, S.C., according to the game's website. Estimated cash value of the top prize is $223.6 million.

Gary Miller, state lottery spokesman, said most people choose a lump sum payout, from which 25 percent withholding tax will be deducted. That will leave the winner with $1.5 million. Miller said Wegmans will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

The winner should sign the back of their ticket, put it in a safe place and contact lottery officials at 717-702-8146, Miller said.

The winning ticket from Wegmans matches all five white balls and the winner chose the power play option. The winning numbers are: 7, 10, 22, 32 and 35. The Powerball number is: 19.

Since August 1, Pennsylvania has had five $1 million winners and three $2 million winners in Powerball, Miller said.