Joseph L. Pinero Jr. of Bourg was busy at work building a sports tavern yesterday morning when his day was surprisingly cut short to claim a $250,000 Lotto jackpot from the July 9 drawing.

"I was working the morning after the drawing, so my son checked my ticket for me," said the 68-year-old president of the Citizens for Good Government.  "He called and told me that I needed to come home right then." 

Pinero claimed his prize at Louisiana Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge and received $175,000 after state and federal taxes were withheld. 

He is the second winner to claim a Lotto jackpot this week.  On Monday,  Charles Canada of New Orleans claimed a $1,050,000 jackpot from the July 5 drawing.

Pinero purchased his winning ticket at the ABC Super Discount on Grand Caillon Road in Houma. The store will receive a one-time selling bonus of $2,500, or one percent of the jackpot prize, for selling the winning ticket.

The winning numbers for the July 9 Lotto drawing were 11-12-13-29-31-37.

Ticket purchasers must be at least 21 years of age. The Lottery encourages anyone who may have a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem to call toll free 1-877-770-7867 for help.