Rumor has it that the winning ticket was sold in Morgantown, West Virginia ... 8 people to share the winnings
Well.....I certainly didn't win, I never purchased a ticket...... I think the odds of me robbing a bank and getting away with it are higher than me buying the winning lottery ticket.LOL!!! Michelle
8 women in Morgantown, W.Va., apparently win Powerball Monday, March 17, 2008 The Associated Press MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Lottery was working today to confirm that eight women in the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department Tax Office hold a winning Powerball ticket worth $276.3 million. Lottery spokeswoman Libby White said her agency has been in touch with the co-workers who claim to hold the ticket, which was sold at 5:14 p.m. Thursday at Paula's, a video poker bar in Westover located across the Monongahela River from Morgantown. The ticket must be validated by the commission before the eight can be declared winners, Ms. White said. The Lottery has scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. tomorrow. Lottery Director John Musgrave talked today to Linda Fominko, the office's chief tax deputy, who is one of the eight. The office has 11 workers, but only eight contributed money to purchase tickets for Saturday's drawing. "They have sought professional advice and seem to be well prepared," Ms. White said. Crystal Magro was among the possible winners, her husband, Roger, told The Associated Press. Mr. Magro said he and his wife were awakened at 2 a.m. Sunday with the news. "I just thought, 'You're full of baloney,' " said Mr. Magro. "But she was adamant about it." Mr. Magro said his wife will likely continue working in the tax office, along with Ms. Fominko. He resigned today after 27 years as a deputy in the sheriff's department. "We're not in a hurry to run off anywhere, or do anything in particular," he said. The other workers who contributed were Allecia Priore, Andrea Grey, Amanda Pugh, Judith Gapen, Paula Pride and Jessica Dotson, officials in the tax office confirmed. The women declined interviews today, quietly serving taxpayers as sheriff's deputies kept watch. If the ticket is validated, the eight would receive a lump sum payout of nearly $140 million - or $139,421,731.44, to the penny - before taxes. After taxes, the payout would be $95.5 million, White said. If divided among eight winners, each person would receive $11,937,985.75. White said the ticket holder has 180 days to cash in the ticket, and winners often opt to get their financial planning in order before claiming the prize. Maria Skidmore, regional manager for the company that owns Paula's, said today that she planned to advertise the big win by placing a sign in a window at the parlor. "We were glad it was in West Virginia," she said. For selling the winning ticket, Paula's will receive $100,000, said Lottery spokeswoman Nancy Bulla.
