Workers at a Moberly assisted-living facility win $200,000 Powerball

COLUMBIA — A group of employees at Ravenwood Terrace in Moberly became happier and wealthier this week.

Eleven co-workers from the assisted-living facility jointly won the $200,000 Powerball prize from the Missouri Lottery, making each one richer by $18,181.

They learned of the win Saturday.

“We went absolutely ballistic,” said Mary Neustifter, one of the winners.

“It has been so neat because all 11 of us have all these things going on.”

One of the winners is planning a wedding, another is now able to put a deposit on a new house, Neustifter said.

“I can now pay and go back to school,” she said. “It has been incredible for us all.”

Krystle Taylor, 22, of Cairo purchased the group’s winning ticket at Casey’s General Store, 1222 Hurley St. in Moberly.

The Ravenwood Terrace employees heard that playing in a group increases winning odds and began pooling $1 twice a week about six weeks ago.

Winners also include Robert Neustifter, Barbara Carden, Charles Carden, Dianna Taylor and Amanda Taylor, all of Moberly; Daryl Taylor, Betty Taylor and Melissa Jackson, all of Cairo; and Debra Barbey of Clarence.

According to the Missouri Lottery, the group let the computer Quick Pick the numbers for the winning ticket, which were 12, 27, 30, 37 and 47.

The ticket was the 97th second-level winning Powerball ticket since the game redesign made on Aug. 28, 2005.

The odds of matching the numbers on five balls are 1 in 3.5 million for the $200,000 payout.