ONLY ON 3: Burgaw man talks lotto win

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — A Pender County man is still in shock after taking home more than $100,000 in the last Powerball drawing.

“I saw it and I was in shock, literally sitting in my car shaking,” said Michael Snipes, the lotto winner.

Snipes had just finished a fire seminar when he learned the good news. He said his first thought was to keep things quiet until after getting the money.

“My mom and dad were shocked that I didn’t say nothing until after I already went up to the lottery commission and everything,” said Snipes.

Now that the cat’s out of the bag, Snipes can think about how to put that money to good use. For this working dad, it’s all about family.

“I don’t have to work all the overtime that I did. I mean if I wasn’t working 2-3 days of overtime a week, it would be crazy. I mean I never thought I could make it without doing that. So I can finally have the time to spend with the kids, because I mean three boys, I want to be home and be with them,” said Snipes.

He said this will also give him the opportunity to give back to the community as a volunteer firefighter.

“I just have never had the time to commit to Burgaw or Rocky Point Volunteer Department, which now that I’ve been taking these seminars and getting certifications, now I’ll have more time I can actually commit to it,” said Snipes.

For now, he said he’s just going to try and play it smart.

“Use it smartly. Because I mean it’s not the big win, so just to use it smartly,” Snipes said.

He said tonight he is going to take his parents and little sister out for a nice family dinner, on him of course.