Pond is the lucky lottery winner

POST FALLS - Mr. James Pond, you're a lucky man.

Pond, 47, Post Falls, who owns Affordable Lawn Care, verified that he has the winning $250,000 lottery ticket from Tuesday night's Mega Millions draw.

He said he read in the Press this morning that a third ticket in the past year worth at least $250,000 was sold in Post Falls.

"The numbers looked familiar to me," he told the Press this morning.

Sure enough, Pond was on to something.

He said the win is perfect timing.

"I've gotten a letter from the IRS, my son's financial aid for school did not go through and we're behind on bills," Pond said. "I have a boat and camper that I'm blessed with already, but I live paycheck to paycheck. Times are tough and people are not paying their bills. This will help get me out of debt."

Pond knows the money will go fast. He plans to supply some wants of his wife Kelly and 20-year-old son Jimmy.

"Jimmy wants a jet ski, I'll take Kelly on a nice vacation anywhere she wants, some place tropical, and I want a Harley," he said. "But I probably should pay the bills, then buy those things."

Pond said he also plans to pay some extra on his house payment.

Pond's winnings will be $168,000 after taxes.

Pond said his previous largest lottery winning was $100, which was with Powerball.

He said he regularly plays the lottery and spends about $10 each week. He purchased his ticket at Ady's Convenience and Car Wash on Seltice Way, the same outlet where Mega Millions jackpot winner Holly Lahti of Rathdrum purchased her's last January.

Lahti split the $380 million, the second-largest lottery jackpot in United States history, with Jim McCullar of Ephrata, Wash.

Pond's win doesn't become official until he claims the prize at lottery headquarters in Boise.