A winner has come forward to claim the $97 million Powerball prize won on a ticket sold in Metairie.

Lottery officials say the winners are a couple from Metairie: Carl and Diane Hunter.  Carl is 73 years old, Dianne is 62.  They had the winning ticket verified Thursday. 

They bought the ticket at a gas station on West Metairie Avenue at Elise in January.  The Hunters live just a half-block away.  Carl Hunter said he was on his way home from work, and had to stop to pick up some milk.  He had an extra dollar in his pocket, so he bought one quick-pick ticket.

So why did they wait nearly four months to claim the prize?  Carl Hunter owns a construction company, and he wanted to finish all his work before claiming the prize, worried that doing so earlier might have taken his attention away from his customers.