Members of an office pool in Rome have dipped into a quarter-million dollar Mega Millions prize. Six co-workers at Syntec Industries matched the first five numbers from the Oct. 12 Mega Millions drawing, winning a $250,000 prize.

The group each claimed a share of their prize this week at the Georgia Lottery District Office in Dalton.

Winning numbers from the Oct. 12 Mega Millions drawing were: 6-10-24-26-42 and the Mega Ball was 15.

Southern Pride, 3510 Martha Berry Highway N.E. in Rome, sold the winning Quik Pik ticket.

Ruth Bourne of Kingston, who manages the office pool, buys the tickets, makes copies and checks the winning numbers on behalf of the group.

She discovered their windfall.

“She started texting the rest of us,” said Calvin Higgins Jr. of Kingston, speaking on behalf of the group. “I said, ‘You’re joking!’ We didn’t believe her.”

Members of the Syntec Industries office pool are Bourne, Higgins, Annie Holloway of Adairsville, Paula Tucker of Coosa, Joe Gilliland of Rome and Amorous Dean of Rockmart.

The winners have a wide range of plans with their share of the prize.

“We’ll pay some bills and do a little upkeep on the house … maybe purchase a car,” Higgins said.

Today’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing is at an estimated $12 million to a single annuity winner. Tickets are $1 per play.