Forest Grove Woman Claims $1 Million Powerball Prize

FOREST GROVE, OR — A nursery supervisor from Forest Grove won $1 million from the Oregon Lottery this week, according to Oregon Lottery officials. Teresa Avalos-Gomez reportedly bought the winning ticket for Wednesday's Powerball drawing from the Mini Mart at 2705 Pacific Ave., where she returned Friday to check if she'd won.

"I scanned it and it said to talk to the clerk," she told lottery officials through an interpreter. "When I checked it with the clerk, it said I needed to go to Salem. We were both shocked and excited!"

Mini Mart owner Jimmie Musselwhite reportedly told lottery officials he was happy to have sold Avalos-Gomez her ticket, adding that he's looking forward to lottery ticket sales over the weekend.

"I am sure we are going to sell a bunch of Powerball tickets tomorrow," he said. "Selling a million dollar ticket, and having the jackpot still be so high, I think people will come here to get their tickets."

Avalos-Gomez's ticket — with winning numbers 12-30-36-47-62 — was one of 14,283 winning tickets from Wednesday's drawing, which awarded more than $1.06 million across the state. However, Avalos-Gomez missed the Powerball jackpot number, allowing that amount to roll on.

Regardless, Avalos-Gomez is still pretty thrilled.

"I was pretty sure it was only $100," she said. "Now I can pay off my mortgage. I am still wrapping my head around winning that much money."

As a bonus for selling the winning ticket, Musselwhite — who has reportedly owned the Mini Mart for 14 years — will receive $10,000, which he told lottery officials he would use as bonuses to his staff and as a donation to a local homeless shelter.

Steven Dery of Coquille was the last Oregonian to win the $1 million Powerball prize in July 2016, officials said, noting the largest prize ever won in Oregon was $340 million.

The estimated jackpot for Saturday's drawing, officials said, is $356 million.

This post has been updated with the name of Wednesday's Powerball winner and additional information provided by the Forest Grove News-Times.

Image: Oregon State Lottery