By Noelle Edwards
nedwards@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Beth Ann Prymock became a millionaire this week.
Actually, after taxes, the China Grove woman took home only $680,000 in winnings after her Powerball ticket matched all five numbers drawn on Aug. 29.
Still, not too bad for a trip to the convenience store for a loaf of bread.
She bought the ticket at Crossroad Market in China Grove and spent an extra dollar to Power Play the ticket, which meant what would have been winnings of $200,000 automatically became $1 million.
According to a press release from the N.C. Education Lottery, she at first thought she won $600,000. She woke up in the middle of the night and realized she actually won $1 million.
Prymock didn’t come forward to claim the prize until Wednesday evening.
Ricardo Aguilera, owner of the convenience store on Lentz Road, contacted all his regular customers to make sure they checked their tickets.
Michelle Nelson, the sales associate who sold Prymock the winning ticket, was also working the night she came in to make herself known.
Nelson said Prymock was quiet about it, just came in and said she wanted to show Nelson something.
Store manager Tara Black said she started crying when she found out who it was. She said Prymock is “very deserving.”
Black said Prymock’s daughter came into the store several times during the week and said nothing.
Black said Prymock wanted to keep it quiet and that’s why she waited several days to come forward.
“She was just trying to keep low key,” Black said.
Aguilera said his store has never sold a lottery ticket that won anywhere near this much money.
Normally it’s just scratch-offs that win $1 or $10, he said.
It’s definitely the first Powerball winner in the three years the store has been selling Powerball tickets.
Thirty-two states operate the Powerball lottery. North Carolina has participated in the multistate Powerball since May 2006.
Prymock is not the first person in the area to win $1 million in Powerball. In June 2006, Buddy Poplin of Granite Quarry won $1 million with a ticket he bought in Arthur Davis’ Eastside Kwik Stop in Granite Quarry.
In some states, the merchant who sold the winning ticket gets a cash prize as well. That’s not the case in North Carolina.
Aguilera said he’s disappointed by that.
Store owners do get 7 cents for each dollar sold in lottery tickets, regardless of whether they are winners.
Aguilera said his business has gotten a boost from the news. Lots of new customers have come by looking for a little luck to rub off, he said.
The lottery press release said Prymock plans to use her winnings to travel.
Nelson said even though she didn’t win the money, she’s happy for Prymock.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I’m glad that someone local won it.”