Montana News

Montana Millionaire winner picks up check in Helena

Posted: Jan 2, 2013 4:31 PM by Evan Weborg - MTN News\

HELENA - Sam Polesky of Laurel traveled to Montana Lottery headquarters in Helena on Thursday to claim his $1 million "Montana Millionaire" grand prize.

Sam purchased his winning ticket at Cono Mart Superstore in Laurel.

Sam purchased three Montana Millionaire tickets on Nov. 17, one of which was printed with the winning number - 012213.

He kept the tickets in separate places, and the winning ticket resided on his refrigerator until the drawing was held on Jan. 1.

Sam is 23 years old, the youngest Montana Millionaire winner in the six-year history of the game.

"Everybody is telling me I need to seek a finical advisor, so that is first on my agenda. What worries me is all my old friends are going to start contacting me, people I don't know," he said.

Sam said he does not have plans for all of his winnings, but did say that he will be purchasing a pickup truck to replace his Chevy Malibu.

"Probably a Ford Raptor," he said.

He also quit his job as a cook on Wednesday after learning that he had won.

In the photo above, Sam is pictured with Montana Lottery spokeswoman Amber Conger.

The winning doesn't stop with Polesky, however - there are five other winning tickets worth either $100,000 or $10,000 each.

The first of the $100,000 tickets was sold at Holiday store #274 in Billings; the ticket number is 028389.

The other $100,000 ticket was sold at TJ's Quik Stop in Poplar; the ticket number is 082544.

The first of the $10,000 winning tickets was sold at RD's Travel Stop in Butte; the ticket number is 093055. That winner, Eddy Stewart, claimed his prize today.

One other $10,000 winning ticket was sold at Bob's Supermarket in Townsend; the ticket number is 013416.

The other $10,000 winning ticket was sold at Reese & Ray's IGA Plus in Laurel; the ticket number is 018808.