Arlington Heights man wins $250,000 jackpot
An Arlington Heights man won $250,000 from the Illinois Lottery after buying a $1 quick pick ticket at a 7-Eleven in Prospect Heights this month.
Carl Niess, 63, matched all five numbers — 8, 9, 16, 32 and 39 — to win $250,000 in the Oct. 5 Mega Millions drawing, according to a release from the state lottery.
“It was late when I checked the numbers on the Illinois Lottery website. I had to wake up my wife to have her double check my ticket,” Niess said.
Niess is a part-time furniture salesman. He and his wife, Linda, said they plan to use the money to pay bills and “put a little away for retirement.”
The winning ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven, 1 Wolf Road in Prospect Heights. The store will receive a bonus of $2,500 from the Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
Niess told lottery officials that before this winning ticket, his largest win was $100.