Area man wins big on scratcher ticket

A Jefferson City man recently won one of the top prizes in a Missouri Lottery Scratchers game.

Stacy Sinor claimed one of five $55,558 top prizes available in the Missouri Lottery’s “Diamond Bingo.”

He purchased his winning ticket from Break Time on East McCarty Street.

In the most recent fiscal year, Missouri Lottery officials said, players in Cole County won more than $11.9 million in lottery prizes. Retailers received more than $1.1 million in commissions and bonuses, and an additional $3.3 million went to education programs in the county.

The Cole County R-1 (Russellville) School District received $59,173, Blair Oaks R-2 received $122,722, and Cole County R-5 (Eugene) got $79,025. Those funds were used for early special education and transportation.

The Jefferson City Public Schools district received $1,076,681, used for transportation, and the district got money from the High Need Fund — money to be used for special education students with individual education plans whose needs might include things like speech and physical therapy.

Each district also got money from the lottery’s Classroom Trust, lottery and gaming revenue districts can use however they see fit for things like capital improvements, teacher salaries or to pay off debt.

Lincoln University received nearly $1.9 million, which included money for scholarships to students based on financial need and academic achievement.