Covington councilwoman Ocie Franklin won a second-tier prize of $250,000 after matching the first five winning numbers in the Dec. 9 Mega Millions drawing.

 Franklin, representing Post 3 West, is the second elected official in Georgia to win a $250,000 prize playing Mega Millions this year. In May, Lawrenceville Mayor Rex Millsaps claimed a quarter-million dollar win from a Quik Pik ticket.

 "I’m excited, and I’m happy," Franklin said.

 The winning numbers in the Dec. 9 Mega Millions drawing were: 11-12-26-31-33 and the Mega Ball was 27. Franklin, 67, bought the Quik Pik ticket at Pantry Corner, 2117 Emory St. N.W. in Covington. She later revisited the store where she discovered the good news.

 "I was surprised. I couldn’t believe it," the great-grandmother of three said.

 Franklin, who has two adult daughters and two grandchildren, said she plans to help people in her community. Otherwise, holiday planning will go on as usual.

 "I will lie back and relax," she exclaimed. "This prize is a good Christmas gift."

 As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Mega Millions go to pay for specific educational programs including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.1 million students have received HOPE, and more than 940,000 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corporation and Mega Millions, visit www.galottery.com and www.megamillions.com.