8 women may be $276M Powerball winners

MORGANTOWN, W.Va., March 17 (UPI) -- Eight women who work in a northern West Virginia county sheriff's tax office claim they've won a $276 million Powerball jackpot.

West Virginia Lottery officials say they've been in touch with the women, who are employed in the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department Tax Office in Morgantown, W.Va., MetroNews reported Monday. A news conference will be held Tuesday to announce the winners, the West Virginia news Web site said.

State lottery officials were going through security checks to verify the winning ticket from the Saturday night drawing. The ticket was purchased at a Westover, W.Va., business called Paula's.

The eight women are among 11 workers in the tax office, WKYC-TV in Cleveland reported. If their ticket proves valid, the women would receive a lump sum of nearly $140 million, before taxes, the TV station said. After taxes, it would mean a nearly $12 million payday for each lucky winner.

Lottery spokeswoman Nancy Bulla said the winning ticket was the second largest ever sold in West Virginia, behind the more than $300 million won by Jack Whittaker on Christmas Day in 2002.

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