Time running out for mystery winner of 2006

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 posted 11:51 AM EDT

Somebody who bought a Powerball ticket last September in Stearns County defied some staggering odds to win a $200,000 prize.

Lottery officials would like to give the money away, but so far no one has come forward to claim it. And time is running short. The lucky ticket holder has only until 5 p.m. Thursday to appear at lottery headquarters in Roseville and pick up the cash.

"We are hopeful that we will see somebody walk through our doors," said Clint Harris, executive director of the Minnesota State Lottery. "People should check tickets stuck on their refrigerator magnets or that are in the glove compartment in their car, and if they find it bring it in immediately."

Lottery players have one year from the date of a drawing to turn in winning tickets, Harris said.

The numbers drawn on Sept. 13, 2006 were 15-19-26-45 and 47 with a Powerball of 3. A ticket sold at one of the lottery's 15 outlets in Stearns County matched the first five numbers drawn but missed the red Powerball, lottery officials confirmed.

The odds of matching the five white balls and winning the lottery's second largest prize of $200,000 is 1 in 3,563,608, according to lottery officials.

It's rare, but not unprecedented, that holders of winning tickets do not claim their prizes. Harris said that on average $7 million in winnings go unclaimed each year. In Minnesota, there have been 717 winning Powerball tickets yielding prizes of $100,000 or more since 1990, and 58 of them have never been turned in.

"Very strange," Harris said. "It's unfortunate, but it does happen."

Tickets that have been lost or put through the washing machine are not valid. "In that case they are out of luck," Harris said.

Any unclaimed cash is directed to the state's General Fund, which is used to fund transportation, public safety and education initiatives.

As of Tuesday, three other winning Powerball tickets worth $200,000 sold in Minnesota have not been redeemed. A ticket sold in Dakota County for the drawing on Jan. 17, a ticket sold in Anoka County for the July 21st drawing and one sold in Hennepin County for the Aug. 25 drawing have not been turned in, lottery officials said.

Anybody who might have the winning ticket can call lottery headquarters at 651-635-8271 and make arrangements for validation.

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