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Winning Powerball ticket sold in Cabot sparks excitement across community

CABOT, Ark. — On Thursday, the Arkansas Scholarship Raffle confirmed that someone who entered Murphy USA of South Rockwood Avenue in Cabot woke up to a life-changing Christmas after purchasing the winning Powerball ticket.

This marks the second time a Powerball winning ticket has been sold in Arkansas, the first being in 2010.

Ticket sold in Arkansas won $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot

The news sent waves of excitement through Cabot, where residents and store employees alike are still trying to wrap their heads around the win.

“I probably would have fainted,” Miller said. “I can quit my job.”

Cabot resident Austin Garrett said the news brought both excitement and disbelief.

“Congratulations, I’m so excited for them,” Garrett said.

Others shared the same joy for a stranger whose life changed overnight.

“That’s great, I’m so happy for that person,” Miller said.

The jackpot reached $1.817 billion, the second largest jackpot in Powerball history, with a cash option of $834.9 million.

“This blows my mind,” Zach Bell said. “This is one of those things you really can’t believe.”

Community members say a win of this magnitude feels almost unreal for a town like Cabot.

“It’s exciting, nothing like this ever happens here,” Jamie Bryant said.

Kristin Arft said the local connection is what makes this so crazy for her.

“I hear about Powerball all the time, but I’ve never heard of it being this local,” Arft said. “Me and my family were talking about it like, ‘Oh, I wonder who you are.'”

For now, the identity of the winner remains a secret. In Arkansas, lottery winners who win $500,000 or more can choose to remain anonymous for up to three years.

“I think they’re hiding,” Miller said. “I think my reaction would be to hide and figure out what to do.”

Can jackpot lottery winners in Arkansas remain anonymous?

Arft agrees that anonymity may be the safest route.

“If it were me, I would stay anonymous, so I think they probably will,” he said. “I think this is a wise choice.”

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