On Jan. 12, just as Arkansas Business was preparing its cover story about the Arkansans who had won $1 million or more in the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, the lottery announced that the 13th seven-figure ticket had been purchased the previous day at Kroger on Chenal Parkway in west Little Rock. But the winner had not come forward.
Weeks passed and no further announcement was made. So Whispers asked Julie Baldridge, interim lottery director, whether the $1 million Powerball ticket had ever been redeemed.
Yes, she said, on Jan. 20 by Mary Harper of Little Rock.
Harper – and we don’t know which of the handful of Mary Harpers in Little Rock she is – had asked that the lottery not send out an announcement about her win, and she didn’t pose for a photo with an oversized check. But her name and hometown are public record, released upon request.
Harper presumably received the same as other winners of exactly $1 million: $680,000, which is what’s left after 25 percent is withheld for federal income tax and 7 percent for state income tax.
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