Residents press their luck in record Powerball jackpot

JACKSON, Tenn — Saturday’s $900 million Powerball jackpot had residents of the Hub City putting down their cash for ticket after ticket.

For some, they said the tickets resemble hope.

“I feel like it generates a feeling of hope inside someone. Someone that’s got a chance,” Powerball player, Jimmy Homes said. “If they ain’t got nothing but two dollars, that may be their last two dollars, but if I hit, that ain’t my last two dollars. It’s a whole different world.”

While some may be testing their luck as a one time thing, they all know what they’d do with the money.

“Quick pick and just let it go at that,” Powerball player Eric Wilson said. “You know, I ain’t really been no good at these numbers no way, not in this anyway.”

“I would help so many people,” Powerball player Esther Adefope said. “I would bless my church, my family. I’m a generous person anyways so a lot of people would be blessed if I won.”

“I would love to do a lot of things for my mom and just take a vacation,” Powerball player Velma Atwater said.

The odds of winning tonight’s jackpot are one in 292 million.

Lottery officials said if there are no jackpot winners Saturday night, the jackpot will rise to at least $1.3 billion for Wednesday’s drawing.