OGLE COUNTY – Lottery fever is once again sweeping the area and the nation as more than $2 billion is up for grabs in the two large jackpots.
Locally, many are naming off items on their wish lists – a new car, a new house, luxury vacations. The things dreams are made of.
Clerks at several area gas stations said the lines to purchase tickets have been consistent, with many going in spurts.
“Sales have picked up,” said Michelle Dotter, manager of the Shell station in Oregon. “People are definitely buying the tickets.”
She said people are buying more Mega Millions tickets than Powerball, but Powerball tickets are selling too.
“Ever since Friday, people have been coming in here dropping $50, $100 on lottery tickets,” said Ava Bullock, clerk at the Shell station on the south side of Rochelle. “There are people who haven’t ever played at all, they ask how it works. The lines have been long at times, it comes in waves, been nonstop. It’s good for business and it’s fun to dream.”
Stop and Go clerk Jeannie Jamason said the sales have been brisk, with totals reaching $2,700 in sales over the weekend alone. By mid-day Monday, there had already been over 100 lottery sales transactions.
“Friday night we sold close to $3,000 worth of tickets,” said Katie McCoy, clerk at the IL Rt. 38 and IL Rt. 251 Road Ranger. “It’s been pretty constant, especially after everyone gets off work. They have been buying the Powerball too. They all tell me they’ll remember me if they win.”
Kings resident Kerri Villa-Nantz was asked what she would do if she won big.
“I would fully fund and run a boys and girls club,” Villa-Nantz said, as she made her way to the cash register. “I don’t play but I have big plans for my winnings.”
Rochelle resident Emily Bunger had a few ideas in mind if she won the big jackpot.
“I joked that I would buy a grocery store to give us another option to shop, but I would invest in the schools and buy the biggest house I could and stock pile away for my kids’ future,” she said. “Of course, take care of my senior citizens too and make sure they are safe and living comfortably.”
