Oakleaf Village office pool wades in, hits for $250,000 in lottery win

A group of 24 employees at Oakleaf Village of Toledo won $250,000 in Tuesday night s Mega Millions drawing. Front row, from left, are David Moyer, Gussie Wilson, Alison Ostrosky, and Jan Krueger.

Lest there be any confusion, David Moyer and Peggy Park want everyone to know morale is high now among employees at Oakleaf Village of Toledo.

Scratch that.

Practically everyone, including the retirees, were going bonkers yesterday after learning that 24 of the 77 employees at the retirement home had just won $250,000 from the Mega Millions multistate game - or $7,187.50 apiece, after taxes.

They hit on five of six numbers with their best ticket, one of 20 individuals or groups to come away with second-place prizes of $250,000 from Tuesday's drawing for $252 million. There were an additional 158 tickets nationwide worth $10,000 apiece for third-place prizes.

Because nobody hit on all six numbers, the jackpot grew to $325 million for tomorrow night's drawing.

Mr. Moyer, Oakleaf's general manager, and Ms. Park, its care director, were among those who threw a buck into the office pool for Tuesday's drawing.

Receptionist Jan Krueger, who usually coordinates the office pool, said it was the first major prize for Oakleaf employees during the past 15 years.

They usually only play when the pot exceeds $200 million, she said.

The Oakleaf facility, 4220 Holland-Sylvania Rd., is like other retirement homes in that it is normally a peaceful, quiet haven.

Not so yesterday. With joyous workers delirious over their $250,000 winning, practically everyone was hootin' and hollerin' about the win.

Ms. Krueger said she spread the word after seeing the winning numbers in The Blade yesterday morning.

"I said, 'You'd better not be messing with us, Jan,'•" said Alison Ostrosky, activities director.

Those who declined to participate congratulated those who did.

"The residents are very happy for us," Mr. Moyer said.

So is the facility's postal carrier. The mailman was among those getting in on this office pool entry, he said.

Not surprisingly, many employees who sat out Tuesday night's drawing are hoping good luck strikes Oakleaf twice and are getting in on the office pool for Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, Ms. Krueger said.

They fell one number short of the big prize. But Mr. Moyer figured that wasn't all bad.

At least nobody won so much money they felt they could resign.

"If we'd gotten one more number, we'd have been in trouble," he mused.

Contact Tom Henry at:

thenry@theblade.com

or 419-724-6079.