Mega millions jackpot hits $145 million

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions drawing climbed to $145 million after no lottery players matched all six numbers in Tuesday night's drawing.

The numbers drawn Tuesday night were  9, 33, 51, 53 and 56, with 39 as the gold Mega Ball.

There were also no $250,000 tickets sold in Georgia that matched the first five numbers, but not the Mega Ball.

The Mega Millions jackpot has been growing since Sept. 1, when Wayne Reese of Sharpsburg won a $12 million top prize.

Meanwhile, others in the area on Tuesday won lesser amounts.

A retired pilot is $250,000 richer after matching the first five numbers in last week's Mega Millions drawing.

Charles Wilkes, 71, of Winston purchased a Quik Pik ticket for the Sept. 29 drawing at Clayton Oil Food Mart in Dillard.

“It was so shocking,” Wilkes said. “I sent my wife to the computer to check the results, and we both agreed that our prize is good.”

Wilkes and his wife, Pat, aren't sure yet what they'll do with their prize.

Two other lottery players are cashing in from recent wins.

A Rome woman, Lisa Churchwell Chastain, won $400,000 with a scratch-off ticket she bought and scratched off immediately. The 38-year-old won the top prize in the "$400,000 Fast Play" game.

A Moultrie couple has won 2010 Atlanta Falcons season tickets in an instant game.

Penny Bridges, a secretary, scratched Falcons game ticket her husband Doug purchased. In addition to two lower level tickets, the two will also receive a parking pass, $1,000 game day cash and two jerseys.

Staff writers Marcus K. Garner and Mike Morris contributed.