Dennis Mebane won $100,000 in the N.C. Lottery, but chances are you're not going to find him if you want to look up your long-lost and now deep-pocketed buddy.
Mebane, who lives south of Reidsville, told lottery officials not to release the photo of him receiving the ceremonial check after turning in his winning scratch-off ticket Tuesday morning.
A visit to his house during the afternoon resulted in nobody opening the door.
On Tuesday the nearby gas station on U.S. 29 Business where Mebane usually plays had a sign that read "Closed, July 15-July 22."
"When the store opens back up on Friday, I am going by to tell him that's one vacation I am glad he took," Mebane was quoted as saying in a N.C. Lottery release.
That vacation sent him to another store to play — Huff's Shell on Barnes Street near the U.S. 29 intersection — and hit it big.
Mebane, a truck driver for 30 years, bought the "Winner Take All" ticket at the Huff Barnes Street No. 211 store in Reidsville.
Lottery officials were the only people he talked to about his winnings.
"Everybody that comes in for a big money winning, we tell them that the name and the amount they won and the town that they're from are public information," said lottery spokeswoman Pam Walker, adding that many choose not to talk to media. "Some are a little gun-shy about that."
Even when he called lottery offices in Raleigh on Monday to say that he was coming to collect, he didn't leave his name in a phone message, Walker said.
Mebane went to Raleigh on Tuesday to collect his prize, $68,001.60 after taxes, from the state lottery commission and becomes the third winner of the $5 "Winner Take All" game.
Kristi Gauldin, an employee at Huff's Shell, sold the winning ticket to Mebane. Gauldin said Mebane came in sometime during the afternoon, and that "Winner Take All" ticket was the only one he purchased of that game and the only one she sold all day.
"He left and then came back 30 minutes later to show me the ticket. We scanned it and (the computer) said 'Pick up prize in Raleigh,'" Gauldin said. When asked whether or not she would get any of the prize, Gauldin said "He said he'd be back to tip me."
Gauldin said if Mebane had not bought that ticket, she was planning on buying it after her shift ended at 10 p.m. Gauldin said as an employee, she could not buy tickets while on the job. Before Mebane's big prize, Gauldin said the largest ticket the gas station had sold was worth $250.
Mebane joins Debbie Schenck of Salisbury and Felisha Hines of Greenville, the state's two other top prize winners playing "Winner Take All." There are still seven $100,000 prizes left in the game, which was introduced June 27.
Mebane's luck didn't end with the $100,000 win. Mebane said he even won $10 in a game on his way to pick up his prize from Raleigh.
"Mebane, who lives south of Reidsville, told lottery officials not to release the photo of him receiving the ceremonial check after turning in his winning scratch-off ticket Tuesday morning. A visit to his house during the afternoon resulted in nobody opening the door."
Solid attempt to evade some publicity but the state released his picture with the big check anyway:
"When asked whether or not she would get any of the prize, Gauldin said "He said he'd be back to tip me."
For what?
"Gauldin said if Mebane had not bought that ticket, she was planning on buying it after her shift ended at 10 p.m. "
Puhleeze!!! That very ticket that was probably there the night before. Right.
He didn't win a fortune, maybe just enough to pay his bills, buy a new car and put some money away for retirement. Hope people leave him alone and let him enjoy it.
NC doesn't allow anonimity unless you've got a court order or are part of an Address Confidentiality Program (often used for those who have been stalked, sexually assaulted or been on the receiving end of domestic violence).
I think it's a shame NC isn't giving anonimity to anyone who requests it. The only real entities that need to know who a winner is are the IRS and state government. People deserve the right to have their information protected, especially in cases where they will be receiving huge sums of money. There are several internet companies selling reams of info about people and they gather it all from public records. All they need is a name and city, which the state of NC graciously provides.
I love my state but I hate the obtuse reasoning inherent in government.
NC doesn't allow anonimity unless you've got a court order or are part of an Address Confidentiality Program (often used for those who have been stalked, sexually assaulted or been on the receiving end of domestic violence).
I think it's a shame NC isn't giving anonimity to anyone who requests it. The only real entities that need to know who a winner is are the IRS and state government. People deserve the right to have their information protected, especially in cases where they will be receiving huge sums of money. There are several internet companies selling reams of info about people and they gather it all from public records. All they need is a name and city, which the state of NC graciously provides.
I love my state but I hate the obtuse reasoning inherent in government.
Indeed......
Yes, we have to work hard to protect our identity nowadays, but here is a case where it can be plastered onto the web/papers/TV for everyone to see.
Good evening! What I meant by "I hope people leave him alone" is that all this hype is making it seem as if he is suddenly very wealthy. First the cashier wants a piece and probably every neighbor and relative will be asking for money. I understand that anonymity is not an option. In FL it isn't either, but if someone makes a special request, why can't they simply list the information in the Public Records instead of publishing articles and pictures? I read press releases all the time to see who won, but I would never go out of my way to get a name or address of a lottery winner. So I guess I was trying to say, you don't have to break the law to honor a person's request for no or limited publicity.
This is my hometown! It really feels strange viewing the big town of "Reidsville" on my favorite web site. I can't wait for Pick 3. I am getting all the bugs out of my excel worksheets.
I notice that they publish pictures even of small winners. Winning $ 999 might not be much, but enough to attract local burglars and robbers living in the winners neighborhood.
People are being killed for a $ 10 dollar bill these days.
Well, Mr. Mebane has some money now. I hope he spends it wisely.
"Mebane, who lives south of Reidsville, told lottery officials not to release the photo of him receiving the ceremonial check after turning in his winning scratch-off ticket Tuesday morning. A visit to his house during the afternoon resulted in nobody opening the door."
Solid attempt to evade some publicity but the state released his picture with the big check anyway:
http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/winners_board.aspx
So they don't respect your wishes in either case.
That's a nice chunk of change to win. Congrats to him.
"When asked whether or not she would get any of the prize, Gauldin said "He said he'd be back to tip me."
For what?
"Gauldin said if Mebane had not bought that ticket, she was planning on buying it after her shift ended at 10 p.m. "
Puhleeze!!! That very ticket that was probably there the night before. Right.
He didn't win a fortune, maybe just enough to pay his bills, buy a new car and put some money away for retirement. Hope people leave him alone and let him enjoy it.
I agree JXP.... it appears that NC is so desperate to attract attention and sell more tickets that they completely ignored his request .
Then again, maybe it is part of the law or agreement that one cannot request anonimity...
...DD
NC doesn't allow anonimity unless you've got a court order or are part of an Address Confidentiality Program (often used for those who have been stalked, sexually assaulted or been on the receiving end of domestic violence).
I think it's a shame NC isn't giving anonimity to anyone who requests it. The only real entities that need to know who a winner is are the IRS and state government. People deserve the right to have their information protected, especially in cases where they will be receiving huge sums of money. There are several internet companies selling reams of info about people and they gather it all from public records. All they need is a name and city, which the state of NC graciously provides.
I love my state but I hate the obtuse reasoning inherent in government.
NC doesn't allow anonimity unless you've got a court order or are part of an Address Confidentiality Program (often used for those who have been stalked, sexually assaulted or been on the receiving end of domestic violence).
I think it's a shame NC isn't giving anonimity to anyone who requests it. The only real entities that need to know who a winner is are the IRS and state government. People deserve the right to have their information protected, especially in cases where they will be receiving huge sums of money. There are several internet companies selling reams of info about people and they gather it all from public records. All they need is a name and city, which the state of NC graciously provides.
I love my state but I hate the obtuse reasoning inherent in government.
Yes, we have to work hard to protect our identity nowadays, but here is a case where it can be plastered onto the web/papers/TV for everyone to see.
...DD
Good evening! What I meant by "I hope people leave him alone" is that all this hype is making it seem as if he is suddenly very wealthy. First the cashier wants a piece and probably every neighbor and relative will be asking for money. I understand that anonymity is not an option. In FL it isn't either, but if someone makes a special request, why can't they simply list the information in the Public Records instead of publishing articles and pictures? I read press releases all the time to see who won, but I would never go out of my way to get a name or address of a lottery winner. So I guess I was trying to say, you don't have to break the law to honor a person's request for no or limited publicity.
I would love to know how to apply for the Address Confidentiality Program, my situation qualifies.
nc6string, go to www.ncdoj.com and click on 'Victims and Citizens Services'.
Perfect, thank you.
This is my hometown! It really feels strange viewing the big town of "Reidsville" on my favorite web site. I can't wait for Pick 3. I am getting all the bugs out of my excel worksheets.
Pamelab,
Now Reidsville can be known for something other than having a Clean Harbors hazardous waste facility in town...
...DD
I notice that they publish pictures even of small winners. Winning $ 999 might not be much, but enough to attract local burglars and robbers living in the winners neighborhood.
People are being killed for a $ 10 dollar bill these days.