C.O. Powerball winner putting it into his cows

Tony Newbill of Powell Butte has a plan for his $50,000 Powerball jackpot,getting some of those dream projects done on his Central Oregon ranch.

Newbill stopped at Bandits in Redmond for a quick bite to eat and picked up a Powerball ticket, using his special numbers.

“This is the most I have ever won, definitely worth the drive over to the Valley,” Newbill said. “I haven’t been over here in a while, and I’m happy to come over for this.”

Newbill, who has a ranch near Powell Butte, said his winnings will go toward infrastructure upgrades on his ranch.

He has plans for more irrigation on his 160-acre ranch, and also some power line work he wanted to get done.

“I’m putting it into cows,” he said. “We have about 100 head of cattle ,and our family has been doing this for a long time.”

After taxes, Newbill brought home about $34,000 — and this isn’t the first time he’s won. Previously, his biggest prize was several thousand from a Megabucks drawing in 2012.

No matter how you play, you never know when you will hit the jackpot, and Newbill said he is going to continue to play.

“I’m going to keep playing, but now I’m picking some different numbers,” he said.

The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their lottery tickets, regardless of the game.

In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings.

Prize winners of more than $50,000 should contact the Lottery office in Salem to schedule an appointment to claim their prize.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned over $9 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements.

For more information on the Oregon Lottery, visit www.oregonlottery.org