Montana News

Newest "Montana Millionaire" steps forward

Posted: Jan 1, 2013 6:04 PM by Dustin Klemann - MTN News
Updated: Jan 1, 2013 6:05 PM

Sam Polesky of Laurel is a man of routine. He goes to same Cono-Mart in Laurel on his way to work, where the gas is only $3.05 and the help is quite friendly.

But when he bought his three Montana Millionaire tickets on November 17, he had a good feeling that this was his year.

Polesky said, "I knew I was going to win something. I had a feeling...Early this summer, my dad died and I prayed for him to help me out."

And it appears that his father delivered.

When Polesky checked his tickets, the numbers 012213 initiated a wild ride of emotions: "I was so...I couldn't stop shaking and started crying a little this morning."

Last year, Polesky won $600 on a Mega Millions lottery ticket.

He admits that this win was a bit more exciting, and a little unbelievable.

Besides his first purchases of a Mountain Dew and a pack of cigarettes to calm his nerves, the new millionaire also plans to buy a new truck - but first he had to take care of one other detail.

Polesky, who worked as a cook, laughed, "My brother is the kitchen manager out there, and I told him, 'I'm done with work, I quit!' He's like, 'What?' I'm like, 'I won the million dollars!'"

Polesky plans to take his trip to Montana Lottery headquarters in Helena on Wednesday to claim his prize.

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.

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.

This marks the sixth year for the popular game, which featured odds of 1 in 130,000 of winning the $1 million grand prize.