Cary man wins $1M in Powerball

A Cary man will start the Memorial Day weekend with some extra cash after winning a $1 million Powerball prize.

Officials with the North Carolina Education Lottery said Friday that Brian Baer beat odds of 1 in 5.1 million with his ticket, which matched all five white balls in the March 15 drawing.

He bought the ticket at Dolphins on Commons Hill Drive in Cary.

Baer received $692,000 after taxes.

Two military veterans also won some cash for Memorial Day.

Michael Rowles of Fayetteville, who is retired after serving 24 years in the Army, got lucky Thursday when he scratched off one of the five Extreme Cash tickets he purchased and won $200,000.

“I didn’t believe it,” he said. “I thought it was a joke.”

Rowles, who bought his tickets at Kangaroo Express on Ramsey Street in Fayetteville, said he plans to spend his after-tax winnings of $138,401 on paying off his mortgage and buying a new truck.

“A 2014 Chevy Silverado,” he said. “Already picked out the color and everything. Champagne.”

Vietnam veteran Terry McLamb, of Wake Forest, won the $1,000 a Week for Life game. He said he plans to donate some of his winnings to a veteran’s group.