DORCHESTER, Mass. (WWLP) - A Taunton man is the winner of the first $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s new “$1,000,000 Merry & Bright” instant ticket game. Two Springfield residents win $1 million on instant tickets According to the Massachusetts Lottery, Michael Barber Jr. of Taunton chose the cash option and received a one-time payment of $650,000, before taxes. He said that he plans on using his winnings for traveling and home repairs. Massachusetts Lottery The ticket was purchased at Regal Wine & Spirits on Bay Street in Taunton, and the retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for the sale of the ticket. The “$1,000,000 Merry & Bright” ticket is one of six holiday-themed tickets that was launched back on October 15. Players will have chances to win top prizes ranging from $500 to $2.5 million, and they can also enter non-winning holiday tickets into a drawing for chances to win cash prizes from $100 to $10,000. Local News Headlines Longtime State Representative Susan Williams Gifford passes away Students celebrate STEM Week at Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Drought conditions this fall in Massachusetts PrimoHoagies set to open its first Massachusetts location WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.