Powerball pays for local woman

Published 9:03 pm Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A Smithfield resident won $200,000 in a Powerball drawing, Virginia Lottery officials announced this week.

Anna Effler’s ticket for the Dec. 15 Powerball drawing matched the first five numbers. Hers was the only ticket in the state to do so and just one of four to do so nationwide.

“It’s a good thing I was sitting down!” she told lottery officials as she claimed her prize, according to a news release on the agency’s website. “My mouth just got bigger and bigger.”

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Effler used Easy Pick to select her numbers when she bought the ticket at the Southern Food Store on Benns Church Blvd.

Effler, who is retired, said she would give a portion of her winnings to her four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.