Todd Howard of Springfield PHOTO PROVIDED
The broken railing was bugging Todd Howard of Springfield. Nearly every weekend he would take his daughter to yogurt and notice the potentially dangerous railing.
On a recent visit to get yogurt with his daughter, Howard decided to take his tools. ”I just thought I’d fix it so I wouldn’t worry about it anymore and ended up getting free yogurt,” Howard said. ”I felt like I won the Lottery, so I went and bought a ticket. Turns out, my good deed lead to a $50,000 Lottery win!”
Howard won a $50,000 prize when he matched four numbers and the Powerball during the Saturday, Aug. 18 Powerball drawing. He purchased the ticket at the Dari-Mart in Springfield on M Street. The next Powerball drawing is Saturday, and will have a jackpot at an estimated $90 million.
This was the biggest jackpot ticket that Dari-Mart has sold in the last three years.
Howard said the win was helping him hit the ”reset” button on his finances, and the prize would take a lot of stress out of his life.
”I just feel very fortunate and blessed to have won,” he said. ”While it might not seem like a huge amount compared to some wins, it will be making a difference in my life.”
During the 2015-17 biennium in Lane County, where Howard lives and purchased his ticket, more than $50.8 million in Oregon Lottery proceeds were directed to economic development, parks, education and watershed enhancement.
Lottery officials recommend that you always sign the back of your tickets with each Oregon Lottery game you play, to ensure you can claim any prize you may win. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 should contact the Lottery office to schedule an appointment to claim their prize.