Taking a chance or two

Ed Henderson has been playing the lottery every day for nearly 15 years, and last night was one of the best opportunities he has had to hit it big.
On the other hand, Jennifer Kendra and Randi Marodi never play the lottery, but they did Wednesday.
Wednesday’s night’s winning numbers are 2-11-47-62-63, Powerball: 17.
Places such as Popcorn Willy restaurant on North Main Street in Washington had long lines made up of both kinds of people, all hoping to hit Wednesday night’s $500 million Powerball jackpot, the third largest in its history. According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, tickets for the multistate game were being sold at a rate of nearly 4,200 per minute Wednesday morning.
The rush to buy tickets was anticipated, according to Linda Wolfe, a Popcorn Willy employee. Wolfe said the combination of lunch and a large jackpot can lead to lines going out the door.
“When it’s that high you can’t not try,” said Kendra, of Washington.
Marodi, from Bentleyville, was in Popcorn Willy picking up lunch for her boss, Washington County Commissioner Harlan Shober Jr. She said he gave her some extra money to pick up Powerball tickets in addition to a turkey sandwich. Marodi also got some for her stepmother as well as for herself.
“We all chipped in at the office and bought a bunch of tickets,” Marodi said, adding that if she won she would use the money to help members of her family.
Henderson has been a loyal lottery player and has seen quite a bit of success in his years of playing.
“The lottery has really been good to me,” he said. “I’m real fortunate at winning.”
Jackpots as big as Wednesday’s don’t come around very often, but Henderson knew exactly what he would do with the money.
“I’d move out of town and I’d buy a nice home,” he said.
He also has more philanthropic ideas for the money. A lifelong Washington resident, Henderson would give back to the city he grew up in.
“I’d pass out money all through the town, and to family,” Henderson said.