Lee$burg Couple Hit It Big

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By STAFF AND AP REPORTS-

LEESBURG - There is a busy signal on the telephone line at the home of Roy and Barbara Hamer.

Barbara's pager goes unanswered.

Neither of them showed up for work today.

Normally, circumstances like these would be cause for concern.

Not today.

Not for the Hamers.

You see, they are the newest Powerball millionaires.

According to press releases from the Hoosier Lottery office in Indianapolis, the Hamers were the lucky purchasers of a single winning ticket in Saturday's $41-million jackpot.

They chose the cash option.

After taxes, the Hamers will receive more than $15.4 million.

They arrived, along with their attorney, Sally Sittler Wilson, at Hoosier Lottery headquarters in Indianapolis to turn in the winning ticket Monday afternoon.

'We kept it in the floor board of our car,' Roy Hamer said in a statement. 'We knew that was the best place 'cause no one would think to look there.'

Roy Hamer, 51, is an assistant superintendent at Rozella Ford Golf Course, Warsaw. He has worked there three years. He hasn't indicated to course owners that he will quit - yet.

Nick Denney, a course worker, said they heard from Roy Sunday.

"Everybody's happy for him," Denney said.

Wendell Sadler, of McHatton-Sadler Funeral Home, where Barbara has worked for 10 years, said he was going to lose a good employee.

Barbara informed Sadler that she would be leaving her job at the funeral home, but graciously offered to train her replacement.

"It's wonderful," Sadler said. "I hate to see her go but it's for a good reason."

The Hamers are not complete strangers to money management.

'The couple has already started a very good financial investment program,' Wilson said.

News of the winning ticket created quite a buzz with customers at the V & Ease Stop 'N Shop, where the winning $41 million ticket was sold. The store will get a 1 percent cut - or about $414,000 - of the winnings for selling the lucky ticket.

'In a little small town like this they're going crazy. They call us the lucky store now,' said store employee Shirley Johnson. 'I just hope it's someone that needed it. They're going to have a merry Christmas, that's for sure.'

The numbers drawn Saturday were 2, 8, 26, 34, 46 and Powerball 30. The Powerball prize drops to an estimated $10 million for Wednesday. [[In-content Ad]]

LEESBURG - There is a busy signal on the telephone line at the home of Roy and Barbara Hamer.

Barbara's pager goes unanswered.

Neither of them showed up for work today.

Normally, circumstances like these would be cause for concern.

Not today.

Not for the Hamers.

You see, they are the newest Powerball millionaires.

According to press releases from the Hoosier Lottery office in Indianapolis, the Hamers were the lucky purchasers of a single winning ticket in Saturday's $41-million jackpot.

They chose the cash option.

After taxes, the Hamers will receive more than $15.4 million.

They arrived, along with their attorney, Sally Sittler Wilson, at Hoosier Lottery headquarters in Indianapolis to turn in the winning ticket Monday afternoon.

'We kept it in the floor board of our car,' Roy Hamer said in a statement. 'We knew that was the best place 'cause no one would think to look there.'

Roy Hamer, 51, is an assistant superintendent at Rozella Ford Golf Course, Warsaw. He has worked there three years. He hasn't indicated to course owners that he will quit - yet.

Nick Denney, a course worker, said they heard from Roy Sunday.

"Everybody's happy for him," Denney said.

Wendell Sadler, of McHatton-Sadler Funeral Home, where Barbara has worked for 10 years, said he was going to lose a good employee.

Barbara informed Sadler that she would be leaving her job at the funeral home, but graciously offered to train her replacement.

"It's wonderful," Sadler said. "I hate to see her go but it's for a good reason."

The Hamers are not complete strangers to money management.

'The couple has already started a very good financial investment program,' Wilson said.

News of the winning ticket created quite a buzz with customers at the V & Ease Stop 'N Shop, where the winning $41 million ticket was sold. The store will get a 1 percent cut - or about $414,000 - of the winnings for selling the lucky ticket.

'In a little small town like this they're going crazy. They call us the lucky store now,' said store employee Shirley Johnson. 'I just hope it's someone that needed it. They're going to have a merry Christmas, that's for sure.'

The numbers drawn Saturday were 2, 8, 26, 34, 46 and Powerball 30. The Powerball prize drops to an estimated $10 million for Wednesday. [[In-content Ad]]

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

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