By Todd Wineburner

Rocky Patel and Bob Baker were business acquaintances before the Powerball mega-jackpot, but they had no idea how far the relationship would go. Patel is the manager of Bart's Supermarket in Flanagan, and Baker frequently visits for his meat inspection job. When the big drawing was imminent, Baker thought he'd pick up a $2 ticket, but he was a dollar short. Patel offered the other dollar, and the two men jokingly said that if it turned out to be a big winner, they'd share the money.

Today the Illinois lottery commission will present each man with his half of a 1 million dollar prize that the ticket brought. The event is slated for 1 o'clock today (Thursday) at Bart's Supermarket in Flanagan.