Community
>
Local News
>
Community
Tyler Native Hits Jackpot
By JONAY KELLY-BLAVOS
POSTED: March 22, 2008
MIDDLEBOURNE — A Tyler County native is sitting on a gold mine after hitting a multi-state Powerball jackpot worth millions.
Jessica Dotson, 27, is the youngest of eight Monongalia County Tax Office employees to claim the $139 million cash option from the $276 million Powerball drawing held March 15.
“I was asleep when the phone rang at 1:14 a.m. Sunday morning,” Dotson said. “I didn’t even think to watch the Powerball drawing. When I answered the phone, it was Allecia (Priore of the tax office) screaming, ‘Check your ticket, we won!’
“It took me about 10 minutes to find my copy,” the Morgantown resident added. “I couldn’t remember where I put it!”
Since then, the normally quiet, shy Dotson has been on a whirlwind adventure.
“I am basically a shy person. I really do not like to be in the spotlight, so the past few days have been one big ‘Fear Factor’ for me,’’ said Dotson.
After she woke her parents and sister in the early hours of March 16, no one in the Dotson family could sleep.
“We were in a state of shock,” said Jessica’s mother, Mary Dotson, a resident of Middlebourne. “But we were excited and thrilled. We didn’t know what to do.’’
Like many people her age, Jessica Dotson had financial difficulties prior to her windfall and sought her parents’ advice on handling her winnings.
“We talked about how to deal with this,” she said. “One minute I am struggling like everyone else with bills, juggling a job and school, and trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Then we win, and all that changes.”
The Tyler County native said her No. 1 priority is to take care of her family.
“My parents have worked hard to take care of my sister, brother and me,” she said. “Now I can make sure my parents can live and retire comfortably.”
Word gets around in a small town, and many residents of Tyler County are happy for Dotson’s stroke of luck — but Dotson said the money won’t alter her plans.
“I don’t want anything to change,” she said. “I want to finish my master’s degree in safety management at (West Virginia University), find a job in my field and not have to worry so much about money. This has made that possible.”
The Easy Pick ticket that could make her dreams come true was purchased at Paula’s on Holland Avenue in Westover, W.Va. According to West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave, the retailer received a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Christina Cameron, one of the principal owners of MIR LLC accepted the check on behalf of Paula’s and has earmarked a portion of the money for employees bonuses. Cameron also said her company plans to make a donation to WVU Children’s Hospital.
Dotson, who has been employed as a clerk in the Monongalia County Tax office for three years and was moved to full-time employment three months ago, shares the winnings with Linda Fominko, who has worked for the tax office 35 years; Amanda Pugh, 33, who has worked in the office three years; Paula Pride, 65, a 31-year employee; Andrea Grey, 37, a one-year employee; Judith Gapen, 58, a 14-year employee; Crystal Magro, 49, who has worked in the tax office nearly 16 years; and Allecia Priore, 36, a 10-year employee.
Jessica Dotson, 27, is the youngest of eight Monongalia County Tax Office employees to claim the $139 million cash option from the $276 million Powerball drawing held March 15.
“I was asleep when the phone rang at 1:14 a.m. Sunday morning,” Dotson said. “I didn’t even think to watch the Powerball drawing. When I answered the phone, it was Allecia (Priore of the tax office) screaming, ‘Check your ticket, we won!’
“It took me about 10 minutes to find my copy,” the Morgantown resident added. “I couldn’t remember where I put it!”
Since then, the normally quiet, shy Dotson has been on a whirlwind adventure.
“I am basically a shy person. I really do not like to be in the spotlight, so the past few days have been one big ‘Fear Factor’ for me,’’ said Dotson.
After she woke her parents and sister in the early hours of March 16, no one in the Dotson family could sleep.
“We were in a state of shock,” said Jessica’s mother, Mary Dotson, a resident of Middlebourne. “But we were excited and thrilled. We didn’t know what to do.’’
Like many people her age, Jessica Dotson had financial difficulties prior to her windfall and sought her parents’ advice on handling her winnings.
“We talked about how to deal with this,” she said. “One minute I am struggling like everyone else with bills, juggling a job and school, and trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Then we win, and all that changes.”
The Tyler County native said her No. 1 priority is to take care of her family.
“My parents have worked hard to take care of my sister, brother and me,” she said. “Now I can make sure my parents can live and retire comfortably.”
Word gets around in a small town, and many residents of Tyler County are happy for Dotson’s stroke of luck — but Dotson said the money won’t alter her plans.
“I don’t want anything to change,” she said. “I want to finish my master’s degree in safety management at (West Virginia University), find a job in my field and not have to worry so much about money. This has made that possible.”
The Easy Pick ticket that could make her dreams come true was purchased at Paula’s on Holland Avenue in Westover, W.Va. According to West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave, the retailer received a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Christina Cameron, one of the principal owners of MIR LLC accepted the check on behalf of Paula’s and has earmarked a portion of the money for employees bonuses. Cameron also said her company plans to make a donation to WVU Children’s Hospital.
Dotson, who has been employed as a clerk in the Monongalia County Tax office for three years and was moved to full-time employment three months ago, shares the winnings with Linda Fominko, who has worked for the tax office 35 years; Amanda Pugh, 33, who has worked in the office three years; Paula Pride, 65, a 31-year employee; Andrea Grey, 37, a one-year employee; Judith Gapen, 58, a 14-year employee; Crystal Magro, 49, who has worked in the tax office nearly 16 years; and Allecia Priore, 36, a 10-year employee.
Share:
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpacesMember Comments
View Comments: | 1-1 | Post a comment
|
ALPSPHOENIX
|
|
|---|---|
|
03-31-08 5:42 PM
|
Hello Cousin, long time no see!
|