Powerball portion still unclaimed

The winner has until next Nov. 1 to claim the prize.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL STAR TRIBUNE
After three weeks, the holder of a 47 million Powerball ticket, bought in Minnesota, has yet to step forward -- in what's now become a record wait.
Two tickets shared the Powerball jackpot of 94 million at the Nov. 1 drawing.
Holders of the other winning ticket, sold in Arizona, claimed their half of the prize Nov. 2, amid loud whoops and hollers.
Minnesota's winner has yet to utter a peep, at least publicly.
"Hopefully, by now, they've signed the back of the ticket," said Debbie Hoffmann of the Minnesota State Lottery.
"They should take their time and get any financial advice they might need, then give us a call and come forward."
But not before Monday.
Lottery offices will be closed until then because of Thanksgiving, meaning this will become the longest wait ever for a Minnesota Powerball winner.
Most of Minnesota's 19 Powerball winners claimed their prizes within a week, although several new millionaires took their time.
George Shabatura, then of New Hope, waited 24 days before claiming 7.9 million in winnings in 1993.
Others who took time to ponder include Ron Cronkhite, who in 1998 waited nearly two weeks after the winning numbers were drawn.
In the meantime, he closed his Moorhead food-processing business and sent his wife and children on an extended vacation "far, far away," before claiming 28.4 million in cash and joining them. Duane Peterson held off 16 days on a 2 million jackpot in March 1994. The Moose Lake man said he wanted to remain calm because he was concerned about his high blood pressure.
Speculation
Clint Harris, the state lottery's executive director, is eager to award the Powerball jackpot -- the first since his 2004 hiring -- but instead he's speculating why that isn't happening.
"Maybe they're waiting because they don't want to impact their taxes this year," he said Wednesday. "Maybe someone's talking to a tax attorney or financial planner. Maybe the ticket is sitting behind a magnet on someone's refrigerator and they just forgot about it. Or maybe it's lost. All those possibilities are there."
The ticket holder has until Nov. 1, 2007, to claim the prize, but lottery officials are getting antsy. Printed messages on game tickets and scrolling signs at sales sites remind players they're still looking for the big winner, who must validate the winning numbers of 7-8-13-46-54 and the Powerball of 35 at the Minnesota State Lottery office in Roseville.
At any rate, the winner should think and plan -- exactly what most experts prescribe for anyone who's won such a windfall. Don't quit a job, move or make large purchases before consulting financial planners, they say.