Two Minnesotans have hit the jackpot but might not even know it. Winning million-dollar lottery tickets were sold in Delano and Dundas, yet nearly three weeks have passed, and the lucky owners haven’t claimed their windfall. A quick stop at the Kwik Trip for some Dundas local or a routine grocery run at Coborn’s in Delano could've turned into a life-changing event if only the winners would come forward to claim their prizes. "I never thought I'd be this close to a town that someone won it," Jim Lang, a Faribault resident, told CBS News Minnesota.
While the winners remain a mystery, the stores are basking in the buzz and excitement. Having unknowingly handed out a fortune, Coborn’s in Delano is already reaping rewards. "Fortunately we sold one of the million-dollar lottery tickets here at Coborn's in Delano. Unfortunately, we don't know who the winner is," Coborn’s store director Joe Tipka explained in an interview with KARE 11. But for their part, the store isn't going home empty-handed – they've earned a $5,000 bonus simply for selling the ticket.
Local chatter has spiked as the community wonders who among them might be silently sitting on a pile of cash. The topic is hot gossip over coffee and within the confines of the local bars. "I think it's unbelievable that people don't claim that money," one resident said to CBS News Minnesota. Amidst the suspense, Lottery Director Adam Prock seems unphased, suggesting the winners might be wisely taking their time. "We don't give legal or financial advice, but it's a good idea to get some," Prock stated.
Regardless of the delay, this isn't the first time lotto winnings have been forgotten. A solitary million-dollar ticket was never claimed last year, adding to an astonishing $13 million in unclaimed prizes that ultimately flowed back into the state's general fund. Meanwhile, as speculation runs wild, Coborn’s is relishing its lucky streak – once selling a $50,000 winner, and now, a million-dollar ticket. "You think about it, all the different prizes that are given out and all the different retail spots in the whole state of Minnesota, and for two of them to be given out to us, yeah we feel pretty lucky," Tipka proudly shared with KARE 11.
