The only winning $254 million Powerball ticket was bought in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ The only winning Powerball ticket for a $254 million jackpot was purchased at a suburban grocery store, state lottery officials said Thursday. <br/><br/>The ticket matched all six numbers

Thursday, January 25th 2007, 2:00 pm

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ The only winning Powerball ticket for a $254 million jackpot was purchased at a suburban grocery store, state lottery officials said Thursday.

The ticket matched all six numbers drawn Wednesday _ 9, 19, 29, 42, 53 and the Powerball number 17.

The winner, who has yet to claim the prize, has the option of receiving the money over 29 years, or accepting a lump-sum payment worth $120 million before taxes.

Dierbergs will get $50,000 for selling the ticket for the seventh-largest jackpot ever in Powerball, which sells tickets in 30 states and the Virgin Islands, said Susan Goedde, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Lottery. She said the prize was the 14th largest ever sold in the world.

``We're very excited,'' assistant store director Patricia Cook said. ``Our associates are hoping it's one of our regulars. We have some people who come in every day.''