Pond claims lottery prize

BOISE - When James Pond claimed his $250,000 Mega Millions prize at the Idaho Lottery on Monday, it topped off a turnaround for the 47-year-old Post Falls man.

Pond, a winner from last Tuesday's draw, receives $168,000 after taxes.

Luck started to turn around for Pond nine years ago when he was on the edge of disaster. He was addicted to drugs and his wife, Kelly, divorced him.

"She was the catalyst," he said. "Through her faith, I knew I needed a power greater than myself. I asked the Lord to help me fix the things I couldn't. Finding faith helped me turn my life around."

The road to recovery for Pond has been a successful one. He has been clean for nine years and attends meetings regularly. Six years ago, the couple rekindled their romance and then eventually re-married.

Pond, who owns Affordable Lawn Care and Snow Removal in Post Falls, made his first purchase with the winnings on Monday afternoon. He bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the Tri-Cities.

He also plans to pay down on his home mortgage, set aside money for his son to attend college and buy him a jet ski and take Kelly on a vacation.

"I'm going to take some time off, but I'm also going to go back to work," he said.

The winning ticket was purchased from Ady's Convenience and Car Wash on Seltice Way, the same store that sold Holly Lahti her Mega Millions, jackpot-winning $190 million ticket in January.

"Everyone thinks these things come in threes," said Brad Wilde, manager at Ady's. "This is twice now in the past eight months for us. A lot of players think it will happen a third time."

For their part in selling the winning ticket, Ady's will receive a $20,000 bonus from the Idaho Lottery.

Pond is the seventh Idaho Mega Millions winner to claim at least $250,000 in the past year.

"I'm clean today, I have a roof over my head and a family that loves me," Pond said. "I just want to tell everyone, don't be a quitter five minutes before the miracle happens. Have hope and faith."