TALLAHASSEE -- A Hallandale man and a couple from Indialantic on Wednesday became the first to claim shares of Saturday's $87.8-million Florida Lotto jackpot.

Seven winning tickets were sold for the third-biggest jackpot in Lotto history.

Michael Potvin came to Tallahassee and chose to take a one-time cash payment of $6,852,930.76. Potvin bought his ticket at a gas station in Broward County, choosing the 10-16-22-29-36-41 combination that proved lucky.

Also claiming a lump sum were Rick and Sandy Bertel, who arrived from Brevard County in a limousine. Rick Bertel bought the ticket at a 7-Eleven, letting a computer generate the numbers.

Judge denies challenger's effort to disqualify Harris

TALLAHASSEE -- A day after winning the GOP primary for a Sarasota area congressional district, Katherine Harris got more good news Wednesday when a Tallahassee judge rejected an effort by her defeated opponent to remove her from the ballot.

John C. Hill had argued that Harris shouldn't be allowed to face voters in the primary because she fouled up her resignation as secretary of state.

Harris submitted a letter of resignation on Aug. 1 but said the resignation took effect July 15, the day she qualified to run for the congressional seat.

Circuit Judge P. Kevin Davey agreed that Harris erred by failing to comply with the mandatory resignation requirement of Florida law, but said "her noncompliance was statutorily forgiven" by another provision of the law that resulted in her automatic resignation.

Mayor of Jay defeated after 44 years in office

JAY -- "I got beat," said J.D. Bray -- rare words for the man who has served as mayor of this tiny Florida Panhandle town for all but two years since 1956.

Jackie Stewart, a 55-year-old real estate broker and businesswoman, defeated Bray 110 votes to 82 on Tuesday.

"I've been there 40-something years, and I've enjoyed all of it," said Bray, 82.

During those years, Jay has gone from a sleepy agricultural town to an oil boom town and back again. The oil made some townspeople rich and paid for a new City Hall, but it began drying up two decades ago.

Stewart's platform included beautifying Jay and attracting more business, such as a second grocery store, to the one-stoplight town 40 miles north of Pensacola.

Stewart decided to run after her husband, Haywood Stewart, 61, died of a heart attack in July. A retired teacher, he had run against Bray before and was planning another campaign.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk