A $1 million Powerball ticket that was purchased in northern Kentucky has been claimed not by an individual, but by a group of 30 educators and former educators. The Kentucky Lottery reported that the winning ticket, which matched all five white ball winning numbers but not the Powerball, was bought at the Kroger on North Bend Road in Hebron. The group refers to themselves as “The Jones 30” as they all worked at Jones Middle School at some point and have been playing the same numbers over the years, always keeping the number at 30. Even though some of the members have moved on or retired, they have remained friends.
The group’s organizer, a retired math teacher, discovered the day after the drawing that they had matched the five white balls but not the Powerball number, entitling them to the game’s second prize of $1 million. She kept the ticket safe by concealing it in a math textbook, stating, “No one looks in a math book. I knew it would be safe there…page 200. I have checked this a thousand times.”
Of the 13 members of the group who still work at Jones Middle School, all showed up on Monday after making arrangements to distribute their winnings. Some of the group’s members still work at Jones Middle School, while others are retired or work in other neighboring schools. The group plans to split the $1 million among themselves and, according to the school district, most intend to use their share for practical matters such as new appliances, paying off debts, and booking vacations.
Jones Middle School Principal Stacy Park expressed joy and pride in the group, stating, “This is amazing for this group at Jones. These teachers are hardworking and go the extra mile for their students. I am so very happy for them and proud of the way they are handling this! I wish it were a gift I could bestow upon all of my staff.” The group still plans to continue playing the lottery using the same numbers, despite being aware that their odds of winning may have decreased after their big win. Kroger in Hebron will also receive $10,000 for selling the winning ticket.
