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HELENA, Mont. (AP) A Kalispell man has claimed a $10,000 Powerball prize on a winning ticket that would have expired this week.

Montana Lottery officials say Bradley Eide claimed the prize on Monday.

He bought the ticket at a Holiday Stationstore in Kalispell for the April 9 drawing. He says he then put the ticket in his checkbook and forgot about it.

Eide says he heard about the winning ticket that was about to expire on the radio, and started looking around. He says he found the ticket on Saturday, just five days before it would have expired.

Lottery officials say players have six months from the draw date to claim their prizes on Lotto tickets.

Eide says he does not yet know what he'll do with his winnings.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-06-08 1807CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list