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CNN Live Event/Special

Last of the Powerball Winners Found

Aired August 30, 2001 - 16:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to go to Delaware, because we have been waiting to hear from the last Powerball winners, a brother and sister have been introduced. The are being presented with their ceremonial check here.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

QUESTION: Can you tell us how you chose the numbers, please.

KATHLEEN KEARNEY, LOTTERY WINNER: Quick picks. They were all quick picks.

QUESTION: What was your reaction when you found out you had the winning numbers?

K. KEARNEY: Well, I was...

MICHAEL KEARNEY, LOTTERY WINNER: Shocked.

K. KEARNEY: Shocked is right.

QUESTION: Who was actually holding the ticket?

K. KEARNEY: I was.

QUESTION: You were actually holding the ticket?

K. KEARNEY: Yes, because I live here in Delaware. He lives in Pittsburgh.

QUESTION: Obvious question: Are you going to you quit your job. And are you (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

K. KEARNEY: No, I love my job. I teach first grade in Delaware and, no.

M. KEARNEY: That is correct. I'm her attorney now -- my client.

QUESTION: How did the other teachers in your school react?

K. KEARNEY: They don't know.

QUESTION: What school? K. KEARNEY: Can't recall right now.

QUESTION: What city are you from?

K. KEARNEY: In Pittsburgh?

QUESTION: No, what city are you from in Delaware?

K. KEARNEY: Hocasten.

QUESTION: You are from Pittsburgh?

M. KEARNEY: Yes.

QUESTION: Right in Pittsburgh?

M. KEARNEY: No, from Murraysville which is a small community outside of Pittsburgh.

QUESTION: What do you plan to do with the money?

K. KEARNEY: I didn't know. There are a lot of options and I think we sort of need to settle down and decide, you know, what we are going to do with it. I guess we will help the economy somewhat, pay our fair share of taxes.

QUESTION: Why did you wait so long to come forward?

K. KEARNEY: Why did we wait so long to come forward?

M. KEARNEY: Why don't you explain that to the news media?

K. KEARNEY: Oh, my. Because I never win anything and he was the one who said, go buy lottery tickets. So I bought the lottery tickets and then I didn't check them, I just carried them around.

M. KEARNEY: And that's because she never wins anything. And so finally when no one came forth in Delaware she called me on Tuesday, and said that the ticket had been purchased in the area where she bought the ticket and no one had come forward.

K. KEARNEY: And I said wasn't it going to be a shame because I probably missed it by 10 minutes. I did.

M. KEARNEY: I told her to check the tickets but -- go ahead.

K. KEARNEY: By that time I wasn't sure what the numbers were so I didn't call him, and the next afternoon I called him again and I said -- he said, did you check the tickets? I said no, because I don't have the numbers right now and I have to get a printout at a store so I did that day after work, and called him yesterday evening and that's when we found out. Just don't win anything usually.

QUESTION: And you bought it the last day, shortly before the drawing? K. KEARNEY: Yes. QUESTION: Was it a last-minute thing?

M. KEARNEY: Well, I told her to buy the tickets and she seems to like procrastinate so she knew that I would nag her if she didn't buy the ticket and somebody won in Delaware, so she went ahead and went out and bought the tickets.

QUESTION: How many did you buy all together?

K. KEARNEY: Fifty dollars at "Books and Tobacco," and five dollars and the "Acme."

QUESTION: Do you have other siblings?

M. KEARNEY: No, just the two of us.

QUESTION: Are you married?

WATERS: Well we lost them. But what a story. She didn't know she was a winner. It is a good thing she didn't put them in some clothing and wash it down the drain, but Michael and Kathleen Kearney, brother and sister are the winners of the one quarter of that $295 million Powerball.

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