Remember the Powerball winners from southern Oregon? Well, they almost didn't win.
When Carolyn West's parents asked her if she wanted to "go in" on a Powerball ticket, her husband told her not to waste her money. She didn't listen to him, and it turned out to be a decision worth millions.
"I told my wife we never win at that, let's go up to Seven Feathers and play some blackjack and have a good evening, but she has a mind of her own so she whispered to her dad and mom, 'go ahead, we'll go in with you,' and the rest is history," Steve West said during an interview Monday.
The two couples — Steve and Carolyn West and Bob and Frances Cheney — will split the $340 million jackpot. They plan to cash in the ticket in on Tuesday at the Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem.
Carolyn West said she feels relieved that she and her husband won't have to worry about paying for a college education for their children.
When asked what they'll do if their kids develop an appetite for expensive gifts, the couple said they've already addressed that.
"We've already told them Christmas is going to be just like it's always been…we're not going to change anything," Steve West said.
After taxes, the money would come to $7.6 million a year for 30 years or a lump sum of $110 million.
The families live in the small town of Jacksonville, where they bought the winning ticket last month.
"We've already told them Christmas is going to be just like it's always been…we're not going to change anything," Steve West said
Yeah, Right !!!!
"Good we matched the powerball, we won at least $5" For jackpot winners it didn't seem like they knew much about the game. But congratulations to them. At least they weren't millionaires already like the last record powerball winner. haha
Brad
damn, it's so exciting watching winning stories, i don't know why
I like the part where she said she checked several Internet sites so you just got to know she found this site wonder if she will reply to these threads to verify that fact.
I'm glad they got the hard part over with. Now the fun begins and they will have a lifetime to do everything they always dreamed of doing. Congratulations to them.
this don't add up. steve said he didn't want to buy any tickets he just wanted to go to bull feathers and [play blackjack} carolynn whispered in her mom & dads ear that she would go in with them. the next story says they were just ridind around and decided to buy some tickets. something just don't sound right about this. maybe they are confussed like grandpa saying he bought a humbee.
Ahhhh, nice to know that their life isn't going to change. Same $20.00 limit on Christmas gifts, pay for college, and go back to normal.
I can smell it all the way to New Jersey!
this don't add up. steve said he didn't want to buy any tickets he just wanted to go to bull feathers and [play blackjack} carolynn whispered in her mom & dads ear that she would go in with them. the next story says they were just ridind around and decided to buy some tickets. something just don't sound right about this. maybe they are confussed like grandpa saying he bought a humbee.
It all really sounds suspicious.
this don't add up. steve said he didn't want to buy any tickets he just wanted to go to bull feathers and [play blackjack} carolynn whispered in her mom & dads ear that she would go in with them. the next story says they were just ridind around and decided to buy some tickets. something just don't sound right about this. maybe they are confussed like grandpa saying he bought a humbee.
I'm glad someone else picked up on that "humbee" comment.
Personally, I was wondering what the heck he wanted to buy it for, when he can't even drive! I guess anyone who wins the lottery needs to buy a new car, no matter what. It's like salmon going back to their native streams.
They all seem confused. They can't even keep their stories straight on how they bought the tickets in the first place.
Am I the only one who wouldn't want to be on tv if I won the lottery ? The old guy doesn't look to good, he looks like me might not live to much longer. Atleast the kids should enjoy the money as long as they let people forget what they look like. When I win I'll do as little as the lottery will let me, and no Tv interviews.
bks2-
You are not alone. When I win tonight, I'll live the rest of my life proving, you can live without being in front of the press, tv.'s microphones, etc. It will be a little like $30,000,000 less than the West's money, but $82,000,000 overall is not a bad haul. lolololololo
hellooooo...I'm planning to win...5 tkts from PTS lucky pix...
Well, they got that over with. Now we can move on with life LOL. BTW has Missouri's winner stepped forward yet?
2 observations I noticed:
1) Does anyone think Mr. Chaney looks like Fred Mertz (that's the name I think) from I Love Lucy?
2) Is plaid still in? Not being rude, I don't see alot of people wear plaid nowadays. When I saw Mrs. West wear it, I wondered if it is still popular. Just wondering LOL
Other than that, seems like a pretty regular family. I didn't see what they had on the family since I was at work but to me, the Wests/Chaneys don't look as creepy as the family we all got to know in love up in the coal mine state of West Virginia!
If they do have a "normal" Christmas I will feel happy for them. Normal like when I was a kid and Father Claus would send me upstairs and put presents under the tree and there were cookies baking in the oven and carolers at the door. We weren't rich or anything but I miss those days. If you can afford to give a gift to everyone you love then it's just as good as for any jackpot winners (or better, in some cases).
If they are going to just let the money sit and collect dust, and have just another "normal Christmas," why the heck would they even bother playing? I can see a certain amount of frugality, but living as you once did is kind of ridiculous, especially if you did not have much money. But I think they had plenty regardless. $340 million is not "normal" by any means. But that is the problem with all these winners, they don't need the money to begin with.
Problem is that they already have too much as it is, so they need to blow it on something. So they don't have a clue what to do with it when they get it, nor do they seem to even know how much $340 millions is. I guess I should just start playing the powerball from now on and never expect to win, and act like I don't care. Although contradictory to all I have read about positive imaging/thinking, maybe it will help more. Course over-embellishment, and 'fantasy stories' at the last second also make for a better story...
If they are going to just let the money sit and collect dust, and have just another "normal Christmas," why the heck would they even bother playing? I can see a certain amount of frugality, but living as you once did is kind of ridiculous, especially if you did not have much money. But I think they had plenty regardless. $340 million is not "normal" by any means. But that is the problem with all these winners, they don't need the money to begin with.
That's why I said "Yeah Right" about Christmas being normal.
Nothing in their lives will be "normal" any more.
BTW, This is a good problem to have !
If I win tonight, I would be playing President of the United States at Christamas - spend, spend, spend, spend. Hitting $100M take-home cash, and telling my grand daughter should cou;dn't have something extra would be cruel punishment. Besides, can you imagine the New Years eve party I could throw for my friends! W-O-W !
Screw the normal life!! There would be Dirty Old Man On The Loose signs every where!!!
Nice boring stories, they are following the 'anti-famous press conference playbook' to the letter.
Am I the only one who wouldn't want to be on tv if I won the lottery ? The old guy doesn't look to good, he looks like me might not live to much longer. Atleast the kids should enjoy the money as long as they let people forget what they look like. When I win I'll do as little as the lottery will let me, and no Tv interviews.
If you win Powerball, you won't have a choice if you want to collect your money. I'm pretty sure one of the rules is that all Powerball jackpot winners must appear at a press conference if requested. The advertising is a big deal for them and showing big winners promotes ticket sales as we live vicariously through the jackpot winners. Since all lottery winners are recorded, anyone who asks can get their name, city of residence and amount won. Of course that doesn't include a street address or telephone number, but if I won millions, I'd disappear into anonymity for a while, maybe to Central America, and slip back when all the hoopla was over. I'd like to live a "normal life" too but I can't see how it's possible if everyone knows you are stinkin rich.
Well, they got that over with. Now we can move on with life LOL. BTW has Missouri's winner stepped forward yet?
2 observations I noticed:
1) Does anyone think Mr. Chaney looks like Fred Mertz (that's the name I think) from I Love Lucy?
2) Is plaid still in? Not being rude, I don't see alot of people wear plaid nowadays. When I saw Mrs. West wear it, I wondered if it is still popular. Just wondering LOL
Other than that, seems like a pretty regular family. I didn't see what they had on the family since I was at work but to me, the Wests/Chaneys don't look as creepy as the family we all got to know in love up in the coal mine state of West Virginia!
Yes! I knew he reminded me of someone -- you're right, it's Fred! And his wife did seem like Ethel!
"We've already told them Christmas is going to be just like it's always been…we're not going to change anything," Steve West said
Yeah, Right !!!!
That was their lawyer speaking through them I am sure that it would change alot of things.
Nice boring stories, they are following the 'anti-famous press conference playbook' to the letter.
AMEN Brother.... it was so boring watching em tell that fat lie... I did like when Cheney said he saw the Yellow Hummer and bought it that's what I am talking about enjoy life to the FULLEST while you can......
Am I the only one who wouldn't want to be on tv if I won the lottery ? The old guy doesn't look to good, he looks like me might not live to much longer. Atleast the kids should enjoy the money as long as they let people forget what they look like. When I win I'll do as little as the lottery will let me, and no Tv interviews.
If you win Powerball, you won't have a choice if you want to collect your money. I'm pretty sure one of the rules is that all Powerball jackpot winners must appear at a press conference if requested. The advertising is a big deal for them and showing big winners promotes ticket sales as we live vicariously through the jackpot winners. Since all lottery winners are recorded, anyone who asks can get their name, city of residence and amount won. Of course that doesn't include a street address or telephone number, but if I won millions, I'd disappear into anonymity for a while, maybe to Central America, and slip back when all the hoopla was over. I'd like to live a "normal life" too but I can't see how it's possible if everyone knows you are stinkin rich.
The spotlight only shines because you refuse to turn off the switch. Lots of people hold a news conference, keep their mouths shut, other than to say thanks, and move on. These clowns are spotlight addicted already.
Another case of limited mental capacity now being rich with a limited mental capaciity.
I feel bad for the kids if they still have a "regular" Christmas after winning Powerball. Bah-humbug... Splurge on those kids big time!
HAPPY WEDNESDAY......11/09/05
CHEWIE:
"Ahhhh, nice to know that their life isn't going to change. Same $20.00 limit on Christmas gifts, pay for college, and go back to normal.
I can smell it all the way to New Jersey!"
LOLOLOLOL.....Nothing in the World better than your facetous, cynical & sarcastic remarks....I never get enough....seriously....I look forward to reading all your posts.....and of course you are not the only one on here who is good at that, but you are one of the BEST.....LOLOLOLOL
Truthfully, personally, I don't think that winning such an enormous sum has really hit them yet. I believe they are all still in shock.......I would be.......
Maybe Steve West had never purchased a Lottery ticket before, but someone in the family has done it before......and liked it....So, this time, they decided to try again, and Carolyn is smart because she went in with her Mom & Dad.....Her parents are not strangers to this game...and I don't think she is either...............
Now, time for ..............
& Champaigne....or would that be tooooo muchhhh like splurging????
"That night, I got on the internet and was checking the numbers and at first I checked the Powerball and saw that it was 29 and thought, good at least we got $5 back and then I was checking the others and I just could not believe we had all five," said Frances.
+
Match Mega Ball
Winners
Is there any $5 prize on this list??????????????????????????????????
Well Qwho2020, it's just one of many "stories" that this family has told. They can't keep track of them any more. And yeah, I don't see $5.00 on that list. =)
I am sure I will be muttering gibberish when I hit the MM for $154M cash Friday night. My hands wil be shaking, I'll have trouble dialing the lawyers house Saturday morning. However, I think, after 18 days, I will have my senses back to normal. It money she won, not a vision to a burning bush!