Benton lottery winner comes forward

The man who bought a winning lottery ticket worth $11.25 million in Benton last week has finally come forward.
The Illinois Lottery on Thursday said Donald Wendell, a 16-year resident of Benton, purchased the $1 Quick Pick ticket at Circle K in Benton that matched all six numbers in the Feb. 13 drawing. Wendell said he was putting gas in his truck when he bought the winning ticket.
"I buy a ticket once or twice a week, and I always joke with the clerks and say, 'You sold me the winning ticket, right?' Well this time they actually did!" he said.
Wendell said that the day after the drawing, he heard the news that the Circle K sold a jackpot-winning Lotto ticket. He immediately returned to the store to check his ticket. 
"When I saw that I had all of the numbers, I got goosebumps from head to toe," he said.
Wendell's said plans for the money include helping in the community, donating to a favorite charity and  investing.
Circle K will receive a bonus of $112,500, 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket.