News

Carthage Man Gets Rid of 'Nagging Bills' with $25,000 Lottery Prize

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except a Carthage man, who was in “disbelief.”  Michael Larimore, a 53-year-old truck driver, said “there wasn’t any screaming or yelling” when he scratched off the winning $25,000 Missouri Lottery “MONOPOLY™” Scratchers ticket, but he admitted to looking at the prize amount several times.

“My mom stays with me, so I had her look at it,” Larimore explained, noting that he needed to have another set of eyes confirm what he had just seen.  “It was just kind of a slow, sinking-in-shock, kind of a deal.”

As for plans for the windfall, the father of two sons has a few ideas.

“I’m going to get rid of some nagging bills!” he exclaimed. 

In addition to paying bills, he will turn one long-time dream into a reality.

“I’ve been wanting a boat forever,” he shared.  “I’m going to find a good, used fishing boat for me and my boys.” 

Larimore summed up his Lottery-winning experience by saying that he is “thankful.”  

“This is not a fresh start per se, but it’s going to be decent,” he added with a laugh.

The first-time Lottery winner purchased the ticket at Murphy USA, 2635 Grand Ave., in Carthage.

"MONOPOLY™," a $3 game with a top prize of $50,000, officially began on Dec. 4.