$270M Mega Millions Ticket Sold in Ga.

People in this town have been chattering since Georgia Lottery officials confirmed that the winning ticket for the $270 million Mega Millions jackpot drawing was purchased at a local convenience store.

The ticket for Friday night's drawing was sold at Flash Foods 70, said Tandi Reddick, Georgia Lottery spokeswoman.

However, the Georgia Lottery can't officially confirm a winner until the ticket bearing all the right numbers is presented for verification, and lottery offices were closed until Monday, Reddick said Saturday.

"We're very excited _ it's caused a buzz in this small town," said Billy Hodges, general manager of Clyde's Market 70, which he said formerly was called Flash Foods 70.

Portal is about 200 miles southeast of Atlanta.

If the winner chooses the annuity option, the ticket will be worth payments of about $10.3 million a year for 26 years, Reddick said. Choosing the cash option would mean a lump sum payment of $164 million.

Mega Millions tickets also are sold in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

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On the Net:

Mega Millions: http://www.megamillions.com/