AC repair in Statesboro, GA

One lucky Georgia resident just became a millionaire — 450 times over.

The Georgia Lottery announced Tuesday that the $983 million jackpot winner from the Nov. 14 Mega Millions drawing came forward Friday, Jan. 2 to claim the largest lottery prize in Georgia history.

The winner selected the cash option, which amounts to $453.6 million before taxes.

Although the winner opted to remain anonymous, as permitted by Georgia law, they shared some special details, including that they are from Georgia and have family members who have benefited from the Georgia Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship, according to a release from the Georgia Lottery.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Georgia's record-breaking jackpot winner and their life-changing start to the new year," Lottery Corp. president and CEO Gretchen Corbin Corbin said. "This historic jackpot was also significant for Georgia's students, families and communities who benefit from HOPE and Pre-K. We congratulate our winner and appreciate the support of our players and retail partners during this exciting jackpot run."

According to the winner, they play the Georgia Lottery regularly to support HOPE and Pre-K. They saw the big jackpot on a Georgia Lottery billboard, which reminded them to buy what turned to be the lucky, $453-million ticket.

When they heard there was a jackpot winner, they said they checked the Georgia Lottery website for the winning numbers and saw the astonishing results.

The winner said they plan for the prize to be generational and to give back to good causes. They are thankful to be in a position to give.

The Quik Pik ticket was sold at the Publix on North Highway 29 in Newnan, which resulted in a large reward for the ticket seller. Any Georgia Lottery retailer selling a winning Mega Millions jackpot ticket can earn a $50,000 retailer incentive bonus payment.

The historic payout surpassed the previous record held when one Powerball ticket sold in Buford for the Oct. 23, 2024, drawing won a $478.2 million jackpot. Two individuals shared that prize and selected the cash option of $230.6 million.

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $30.2 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia's Pre-K Program. More than 2.25 million students have received HOPE, and more than 2.2 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

Preiss has sold Market 100, a 532-bed student housing community in Statesboro, Ga. RDG Student Housing, a division of Redeeming Development Group, acquired the asset.

JLL Capital Markets arranged the sale and led financing efforts. The buyer obtained a three-year acquisition loan from Bayview Asset Management.

This marks the company’s first student housing acquisition. At the time of sale, the property was 97 percent occupied.

The asset previously traded in January 2010, when Preiss acquired it from Lowe Enterprises in a bankruptcy sale, Yardi Matrix data shows. The firm paid $6.3 million for it.

Sitting on almost 15 acres at 100 Bermuda Run Road, Market 100 is within walking distance of the Georgia Southern University campus and adjacent to several retail options, as well as 2 miles from Allen E. Paulson Stadium. Statesboro’s city center is within 3 miles.

READ ALSO: Why Student Housing Scores High Marks

The community comprises 13 two-story buildings completed in two phases in 1991 and 1997. The unit mix consists of two-, three- and four-bedroom floorplans ranging from 766 to 1,230 square feet. Apartments have walk-in closets, as well as private balconies and patios and bed-to-bath parity in most layouts.

Common-area amenities include a swimming pool, sand volleyball court, clubhouse, computer lounge and fitness center. The community also has an entertainment center, billiards table and a basketball court.

JLL’s Student Housing Capital Markets Managing Directors Teddy Leatherman and Scott Clifton, as well as Director Kevin Kazlow, led the team representing the seller. JLL’s Debt Advisory Senior Directors Jayme Nelson and Dan Kearns were part of the team that worked on behalf of RDG.

Student housing investment holds steady despite decrease

Year-to-date as of September, 76 student housing assets changed hands nationwide, totaling $3.7 billion, according to a Yardi Matrix report. This figure was smaller compared to the 94 student housing sales and $5 billion registered during the same period last year.

While the average price per bed slipped to $98,000 compared to $107,000 a year earlier, pricing remains elevated relative to pre-2024 levels—an indication that values are holding firm even as large portfolio trades have tapered off.

Earlier this year, Preiss acquired and capitalized two student housing development sites in Knoxville, Tenn., and Raleigh, N.C. The company will develop them in partnership with Monarch Alternative Capital and will serve the University of Tennessee and North Carolina State University.

Saturday will be last of 2025 season that was dedicated to late Deborah Thompson

In a post earlier this week on the TMT Farms Facebook page, siblings Tyler Thompson and Jennifer Thompson McCranie announced the 2025 Christmas lights drive-thru display would be the last one.

“We appreciate everyone that has come out, over the last 25 years, and helped us help others,” the Dec. 23 post began. “Our mission wouldn’t have been possible without you.

“With that being said, December 27th, 2025 will be our last night … permanently. We always knew this day would come and it is now time. The death of our mother, the decline in our father’s health, due to his stroke and the expense to keep it up and running has brought us to this decision.

“Come out and see us one last time! Always remember ‘It’s Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the Air.’

God Bless each of you and we hope you have a very Merry CHRISTmas!”

So, TMT Farms is set to shine one last time – Saturday evening, beginning at 6 p.m. As always, the location is a stretch of farm roads with the central address 16710 Old River Road North in northern Bulloch County.

TMT patriarch Roy Thompson continues to recover from a recent stroke and the 2025 season has been dedicated in memory of Deborah Thompson, his beloved wife, who passed away in July after a long battle with cancer.

Deborah and Roy Thompson, married for 57 years, owners of the successful small business Statesboro Floor Covering, started the holiday tradition more than 25 years ago. Their daughter Jennifer and son Tyler, along with their spouses and children have made it a family effort.

With help from friends and, some years, volunteers from various organizations, the Thompsons began months early each year to transform the family farm into a Christmas wonderland.

Through many in-kind donations and special purchases over the years, the two-mile-long exhibit became a mix of sacred and secular Christmas classics, Americana and local history – the nativity scenes keeping Christ in Christmas – but also antique farm equipment, wagons, sleighs, Santas, inflatable animals, mannequins and replicas of historical Bulloch County landmarks such as Snooky’s restaurant, Henry’s barbershop and the vanished Pav-a-lon and pool from the mid-20th century Fair Road Park.

And, new for 2025, at least 65 to 75 displays from Guido Gardens’ in Metter “of all kinds of shapes and sizes,” as Tyler Thompson described them, will now be visible to the public again, but in Bulloch County instead of Candler.

In keeping with tradition, the display has no admission charge except a requested donation of long-shelf-life canned or packaged food items; a new, unwrapped toy for a child who might not have many; pet food for the animal shelter or cash that will be used to purchase gift cards for families or individuals with emergency needs.