SHERIFF ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT-Wise County Sheriff David Walker announced Wednesday that he will retire in December after 23 years with the department. He has accepted a job with Devon Energy. Walker, who is in his third term as sheriff, was up for re-election this year. He started with the department in 1992, working part time in dispatch while attending college. Throughout the years, he worked his way up in rank and was first elected sheriff in 2004. Walker's last day on the job will be Dec. 31.
In either case, the lump sum or first annuity payment is not sent until at least 15 days from the date of the winning drawing. This waiting period is due to the fact that the company that runs Mega Millions requires two weeks to receive wire transfers of the lottery funds from the 45 participating jurisdictions.
Tran still has 60 days to decide how to take his prize, the lottery said. He can choose either to receive his half in annuity payments over 30 years, or take his share of the lump-sum cash option, valued at $173.8 million before taxes, it said. Georgia resident Ira Curry, 56, was the other winner. Curry, who claimed her prize a day after the December 17 drawing, took the $173.8 million lump-sum option, which will net her about $120 million after federal and Georgia taxes. Lottery winner gives $40 million jackpot to charity. Tran, who declined to speak to reporters but told his story to lottery officials, bought his winning ticket at a San Jose gift shop and put it in a pile of other lottery tickets that he bought in other towns while making runs as a delivery driver, the lottery said.