Meriden Man Wins Holiday Lottery Prize

MERIDEN, CT — Shelton Forney, of Meriden, was on his way to cash a well-earned holiday bonus check when he decided to try his hand at "Lucky Links With 2XPower," according to Connecticut Lottery officials, and he ended up with a second holiday reward.

On December 20, the numbers on Forney’s Quick Pick "play grid" were a perfect match to the winning Lucky Links Day numbers drawn 3 - 4 - 6 - 11 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 21, which resulted in eight winning lines on the ticket for the game’s $50,000 top prize.

The overall odds of winning a Lucky Links prize are 1 in 8.4; the odds of winning the Lucky Links top prize is 1 in 319,770.

"I just couldn’t believe," Forney told lottery officials. "I went to the Ticket Checker in the store, and I saw the four corners matched, 'Oh my gosh, I got all the numbers!'"

He immediately called his wife who was on the verge of joyful tears.

Forney is excited to take care of his family with a little extra breathing room, he says. With no grand plans yet, the Meriden resident sought to enjoy his holiday bonuses with those he cares about most.

For selling the winning ticket, MNJ Shell, located on Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield, will receive a $500 check from the CT Lottery.

The lottery reminds the public that purchasers must be 18 or older, and to play responsibly.

"If you gamble, use your GameSense," officials wrote in a statement. For information about the CT Lottery, visit CTLOTTERY.ORG, check out Facebook (facebook.com/CTLottery) or Twitter (twitter.com/ctlottery), or call (860) 713-2700.

Photo: Shelton Forney. Photo credit: CT Lottery