Sabetha Resident Wins $10,112 and He's Off to the Races!

Harold L. Cook, a 59-year-old Sabetha resident, received a big surprise after a friend checked his Powerball ticket on the Kansas Lottery's website. After purchasing the ticket September 12, Cook left it sitting on his counter for a few days, not giving it much thought. He was in for a shock when he discovered his ticket was actually worth $10,112!

"After my friend checked my Powerball ticket online, he held it out to me and said I had won something," said Cook. "I thought it was a big joke. I put it in my pocket and forgot about it for a while."

Cook finally decided to take the ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters in Topeka to have it checked. He was so surprised to find out the ticket was worth $10,112, his legs almost gave out on him.

"They turned to rubber right under me," said Cook. "I'm still shaking!"

Cook, who is a truck driver for Keim Transportation Inc., drives through many states but always tries to buy his Powerball tickets in Kansas. Although Cook alternates between picking his numbers and asking for Quick Pick tickets for the first five numbers, he always picks his own Powerball number.

"I felt good about the number six that day because it's half of twelve and I bought the ticket on September 12, which was for that night's Powerball drawing," said Cook. "I bought a $5 ticket, letting the computer pick the first five numbers and I chose six for the Powerball number on each set of numbers."

Picking the Powerball to be six helped Cook win on each set of numbers. He won $4 each on two lines by matching only the Powerball number. On another line, he matched one number plus the Powerball number, winning another $4. He also won $100 on one line by matching three numbers plus the Powerball. The big $10,000 win came when he matched four numbers plus the Powerball, which brought his total winnings to $10,112!

Cook plans to purchase a new truck with some of his winnings and ask a special someone to go to the Kentucky Derby with him this year.

"I don't think she'll go, but if she does, I'll even buy her a fancy hat!," said Cook.

The winning ticket was purchased at Crossroads Express, located at 602 W. Frontier Parkway in Oberlin.