Columbia man wins $100,000 in lottery game

A Columbia man won $100,000 on a scratch-off ticket, but almost threw away his winnings.

According to the Missouri Lottery, 56-year-old Ricky Stinocher bought a “100,000 Taxes Paid” ticket at the Petro Mart off Rangeline Street. Stinocher apparently was about to throw the ticket away before realizing he had won.

“I was scratching the ‘Taxes Paid,’ and I didn’t see any matching number,” Stinocher told the Missouri Lottery. “So, I was ready to throw it away, and I spotted the 40. I thought I probably won $5.”

After he scratched it off, he realized he won the top prize in the scratch-off game: $100,000 taxes paid. The Missouri Lottery will pay the taxes on the grand prize.

Stinocher told lottery officials he plans to use the money to help with the down payment of a new home near the Lake of the Ozarks.