PADUCAH — Two Powerball tickets worth $150,000 were sold at the same store in Paducah, Kentucky.
Jimmy Sharp with son and Kentucky Lottery president and CEO Mary Harville
According to a news release from the Kentucky Lottery, Jimmy Sharp and a Paducah woman were two lucky players who matched four white balls and the Powerball to win the game’s $150,000 prize.
Sharp worked as a captain on a riverboat for nearly 50 years, and he had just returned home from a 28-day shift. He said he was leaving the boat when he saw a sign for the upcoming Powerball jackpot.
Sharp stopped at Quick Shop on Bridge Street to buy his tickets. He says he will usually buy tickets once the jackpot reaches $100 million. This time he opted to have the lottery terminal choose his numbers for him.
Sharp’s grandson suggested he add Powerball Play when buying his tickets. Because of this, his prize was tripled when the numbers were drawn on April 6.
He took his tickets to the store the morning after the drawing to have them checked by the clerk.
“I had six tickets and when I gave her the fifth one that’s when it lit the machine up. She said, ‘Oh, you’ve got a big winner,’” said Sharp. Since the prize was too big for the store to pay, the payout information from the terminal was printed so they could find out how much he won.
“That’s when I knew, and she told me to sign the ticket. I felt pretty good,” said Sharp.
After taxes, Sharp and his grandson walked away from the lottery headquarters with a check for $108,000.
Sharp said he plans to put the winnings in the bank and help his family.
Additionally, a Paducah woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, came forward with a second winning ticket from Quick Shop in Paducah.
The woman said she picked her own numbers based on numbers she noticed showing up more often. She’s been playing the same sets of numbers for the past several weeks.
Those favorite numbers ended up matching four white balls and the Powerball to win $150,000. The woman told lottery officials she doesn’t usually add the Powerball Play but had played it in the last three drawings.
The woman said she pulled the winning numbers up on her phone to check her tickets.
“I was circling the numbers to see how I won. I was like, wait a minute and it just kept going down the line. I really didn’t know how much I’d even won,” she said.
“That’s good! I don’t know what it is, but that’s good,” her husband said.
“I can’t believe I was just one number away from becoming a billionaire. I’m very thankful though and content with what I have,” she said.
After taxes, the woman and her husband walked away with a check for $108,000.
She said she plans to pay off her debt and invest some of the winnings.
Quick Shop will receive $3,000 for selling both of the winning tickets.
