Steven Dery of Coquille Wins $1 Million Powerball Prize

Dery was only 2 digits from hitting the grand prize.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Steven Dery of Coquille is well aware that everyone in town already knows he won $1 million playing Powerball.

Dery, who is a regular Powerball player, purchased his ticket at the Coquille Tackle & Smokes Shop. Dery matched five numbers but missed the Powerball number. He said he was two digits away from hitting the grand prize. But noted he was perfectly happy winning $1 million!

When Kathryn Sutphin, who owns Coquille Tackle & Smokes Shop, heard Dery had won, she was very pleased that "someone who deserved it" hit a big Powerball prize.

"Steven is a local guy who was born and raised here," Sutphin said.

"He is the person everyone wants to win. He is a hard working guy who is close to retirement and this will be a very nice nest egg for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't worked every day of his life. How perfect can it be that a person like that wins?"

Sutphin, who purchased her shop four years ago, will receive a 1-percent selling bonus for selling the big ticket.

She said with the $10,000 bonus she plans on putting a new roof on the business and giving her five employees "a small bonus."

"Now we are going to sell the big one," Sutphin said. "We are having some fun with this."

The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize are one in 24.9. Odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292,201,338.

The next Powerball drawing was Wednesday at 7:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time and the jackpot is estimated to be $361 million. Players have until 7 p.m. to purchase tickets on drawing days.

Proceeds from Oregon Lottery sales help fund public education, parks, economic development and watershed projects. For the 2013-15 biennium, Coos County received more than $28.7 million in Oregon Lottery dollars.

The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings.

Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $10 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.

Source: Oregon Lottery News Release