Wanda English Burnett
Editor

“I hope this doesn’t change my life,” Paul Bloemker of Moores Hill, said after claiming his lump sum payment of $1,162,127 from a lottery ticket he purchased recently at the Indian Trail BP in Milan.

The announcement that someone had won $3 million was made last week and on Friday the mystery was solved when Bloemker was officially announced the winner by Hoosier Lottery officials. “It’s another Milan Miracle,” Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Kathryn A. Densborn announced at a press conference held outside the lottery headquarters on Friday, June 5.

Densborn was referring to the miracle of the 1954 Milan High School Basketball Championship victory when Bobby Plump made the famous long shot to seal the game and bring the championship title home.

Bloemker beat the odds of one in more than 12 million to win the $3 million Hoosier Lotto jackpot. He matched all six numbers 5-12-17-21-23-34 in the Saturday, May 30 drawing.

He opted to take his payment as a lump sum and received $1,162,127 before taxes. The Dearborn County resident said he hoped winning the money wouldn’t change his life. “I’m pretty satisfied with my life right now.”

Bloemker does have plans to pay off his house, buy a new truck and pursue additional training and licensing as a financial advisor and securities broker, something he’s always wanted to do.

After appearing at the lottery headquarters he said his immediate plans were to go home and mow grass. “I want to keep busy,” he noted. He said he enjoys mowing his 17 acres and doesn’t have plans to hire someone else to do it. He says he might splurge on a bigger tractor though. At a minimal he will at least get a bigger cooler for his tractor!

Bloemker plays the Hoosier Lotto and Powerball every week and plans to keep spending his usual $10. “If you don’t buy a ticket, you can’t win!" Bloemker advised.

Roxanna Collins, co-owner of Indian Trail BP got her wish that someone local would win the big money. The Milan BP will receive a $30,000 bonus. Collins says the employees will get a bonus from the winnings.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Paul Bloemker of Moores Hill, poses with his big check after winning $3M from the Hoosier Lotto jackpot. He purchased his winning ticket at Indian Trail BP in Milan.