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First Ticket Bought in Two Years Yields $10,000 Powerball Prize

An Alexandria man took a break from playing Powerball for more than two years.  Ronald Gates, 69, saw the jackpot rise to $212 million on April 17, so he decided to get back into the game by purchasing a ticket at Bob Land Service, Highway 61 and 136, in Alexandria.  That decision made him $10,000 richer.

Gates, who bought one Quick Pick ticket for the April 17 drawing, realized he was a winner the following day.

"I just stopped to get some gas yesterday morning, and I ran it through that automatic teller, and I couldn’t believe it," he recalled.      

Gates immediately shared the news with his wife.

"My wife, she was out in the car, so I went out, and I said, ’Well, are you going to Jeff City with me tomorrow?  I just won $10,000,’" he shared.

The retired automotive technician said he doesn’t know how he wants to spend the windfall, but his brother and wife have a few ideas.

Gates’ brother suggested that he buy a "camper to take us to Indianapolis to the races."   While his wife said she’d like to make a few home improvements.

"She wants a new couch and recliner," he noted.  "I guess that’s a start!"

Powerball is a multi-state game that features jackpots starting at $20 million.  The winning numbers from the April 17 drawing were:  5, 21, 22, 41 and 49.