Somebody has got to win Powerball, and many in Albert Lea want to be the one.

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

Somebody has got to win Powerball, and many in Albert Lea want to be the one.

&uot;I don’t usually play,&uot; said Jen Olson after she tried her luck Tuesday. &uot;But when the money gets this big, I feel like I’ve got to buy at least one ticket – just in case.&uot;

Like many people captivated by the generous Powerball jackpot, now estimated at $200 million, Olson bought her ticket on a whim. When she stopped in Albert Lea for gas Monday, she saw the person in front of her purchase five tickets from the cashier at Ole’s East Side Amoco.

&uot;I thought, ‘Oh yeah, the Powerball jackpot is huge,’&uot; she said.

A ticket-buying frenzy is common when the money gets bigger, said Pat Sorenson, manager of the Front Street Kwik Trip. She said more people play, and more people buy more tickets.

&uot;I think the average person gets interested when the pot gets over $100 million,&uot; Sorenson said. &uot;That seems to be the magic number.&uot;

As tonight’s drawing approaches, Sorenson said a flood of last-minute buyers will test the 9 p.m. purchasing deadline.

&uot;I think the excitement builds right up to the end,&uot; she said.

Lori VerHey, assistant manager of Budget Mart on North Bridge Avenue, is also in the trenches of Powerball ticket sales. For two straight hours Tuesday morning, every customer seemed to want a few tickets, she said.

&uot;These weren’t the customers who make it a point to stop in and pick up a ticket. These were people making everyday purchases who saw the person in front of them buy a ticket. Then the person behind that person sees the same thing, and so on,&uot; VerHey said.

If a customer doesn’t mention the Powerball jackpot, VerHey likes to raise the topic.

&uot;I just remind them that it’s big this time – really big,&uot; she said.

Blake Edwards, a clerk at Budget Mart, has been watching with interest as customers line up to buy.

&uot;I don’t know what the big deal is,&uot; he said. &uot;The odds haven’t changed. They never do because the total number of possible combinations is always the same. Now it’s just more likely you’ll have to share the money if you win.&uot;

That fact didn’t stop Edwards from buying tickets of his own. &uot;I always buy $5 worth for every drawing,&uot; he admitted.

The prospect of sharing the jackpot doesn’t bother Richard Manges. He, along with 39 coworkers at the Alamco wood products plant in Albert Lea, will be watching tonight’s drawing closely.

Together, the group from Alamco holds 233 tickets from a contribution of $5 from each participating worker plus $33 in winnings from the last two drawings. If they hold a winning ticket, everyone shares equally in the winnings – about $1.9 million each.

&uot;We’re just having fun with it,&uot; Manges said. &uot;This is only our third time as a pool, but I think we’re going to keep it going. It makes for a lot of joking around at work.&uot;

According to George Andersen, director of the Multi-State Lottery Association, tonight’s $200 million jackpot is the second-largest in Powerball history. The cash option would equal about $78 million after withholding. The annuity option would give the winner $5.2 million per year for 25 years after state and local taxes.

&uot;It’s an amazing amount of money,&uot; said Andersen. &uot;But players should still keep the game in perspective. Have fun with it – throw a few bucks into our office pool and buy a few tickets for yourself. But please continue to play responsibly and within your means.&uot;

Results of the drawing will be available on the Lottery Player Hotline at 1-800-657-3946.