By Lee J. Kahrs, Brandon Reporter
BRANDON — There is a new millionaire in the area.
One lucky resident bought a Powerball ticket at the Jiffy Mart in Brandon and won $2 million, Vermont Lottery officials said.
The winning ticket drawn Dec. 4 matched five out of five numbers, not including the Powerball. The winning numbers were 08, 27, 44, 51, 61; the Powerball was 14 with the PowerPlay multiplier 03.
No one won the Powerball jackpot that day.
At press time, no one had yet come forward to claim the winning ticket, but store personnel were “excited” and hoped “it’s someone local.”
Gary Kessler, deputy commissioner for the Vermont Lottery, said, “It’s always thrilling when we get a notification of a big win in Vermont.”
Dora Munnett is a cashier at the Brandon Jiffy Mart. She said either she or two of her co-workers sold the winning ticket that Wednesday night just a few hours before the drawing. “I was actually going to buy a Powerball ticket and I didn’t,” she said shaking her head with a smile.
All Vermont Lottery agents receive an extra commission when they sell tickets that win $500 or more, so Jiffy Mart in Brandon will benefit as well.
The Vermont Education Fund receives 100 percent of lottery profits.
Munnett said she has worked in convenience stores for years, but that this was possibly the first winning lottery ticket she has ever sold.
Store manager Brittany Clodgo said that it was her first winning ticket in her store career as well. “The winner called Thursday morning saying they won,” she said. “I texted my boss that we had a $2 million winner. It’s very exciting.” To the winner, Clodgo had a simple message:
“Congratulations, and thank you for your business!”
