PTC Powerball winner identified

A Peachtree City man has come forward to claim a $1 million payoff from the Aug. 7 Powerball lottery, according to Georgia Lottery officials.

Matthew Beecher was one of three winners who matched the first five numbers in the drawing. He purchased the winning ticket at the Braelinn Village Chevron convenience store at Robinson Road and south Peachtree Parkway, officials said.

Beecher claimed his prize at Georgia Lottery headquarters Aug. 16, officials said.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $14.6 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

More than 1.6 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.2 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.