Franklin machine operator scratches $150K lottery prize

(Atlanta, GA) – One Heard County machine operator has won a dandy prize from the Georgia Lottery in time for the holidays. Lawrence Nelson of Franklin won a $150,000 top prize playing the instant game Giant Jumbo Bucks.

Nelson, 39, said he purchased the ticket on a whim. “I really did feel lucky that day,” he said.

Jordans Kwik Shop, 2468 Franklin Parkway in Franklin, sold the winning ticket. Nelson scratched it in the store. “I didn’t believe it,” he said. “I asked another guy, and he shook my hand and said, ‘Congratulations!’”

Nelson, who has twin boys, anticipates purchasing a new home. “I’m excited,” he exclaimed.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $13.8 billion to the state of Georgia for education.

All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

More than 1.4 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.2 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corp., please visit: www.galottery.com and www.lotterybenefitsgeorgians.com.