Two-Time Winner

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -- About two years ago, Mary Jo and Jeff Hatch bought the Market Basket minimart on the Rogue River Highway, planning to make their living from the small convenience store.

Their investment paid off: Jeff Hatch recently sold himself a lottery ticket worth $2.2 million, according to The Seattle Times.

Mary Jo Hatch says her husband of 35 years is not a regular lottery player, but he is an incorrigible prankster. When Jeff Hatch came out in the parking lot to secretly let his wife know his Quick Pick numbers had won the big prize, she thought he was up to his old tricks.

"I didn't believe him. He teases me terrible, so it took awhile" before reality set in, she said.

The Hatches did their best to keep a tight lid on the news, but cashier Laura Lea says lottery officials spilled the beans when they came to the store to announce the news. "I only found out when the lottery people showed up," Lea said. "It couldn't have happened to nicer people. But they already have a phone full of messages from people they don't even know asking for money."

As owners of both the winning ticket and the store that sold the ticket, the Hatches are two times lucky.
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