MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Lottery worked yesterday to confirm that eight women in the Monongalia County sheriff's department tax office hold a winning Powerball ticket worth $276.3 million.

Lottery spokeswoman Libby White said her agency has been in touch with the co-workers who claim to hold the winning ticket from Saturday's drawing.

The ticket must be validated before the eight can be declared winners, Ms. White said.

Lottery Director John Musgrave talked yesterday to Linda Fominko, the office's chief tax deputy, who is one of the eight.

"They have sought professional advice and seem to be well-prepared," Ms. White said.

Lottery officials yesterday asked the employees not to do any more interviews until they were confirmed as winners. A news conference is scheduled for today.

Heather Stone, manager of Paula's Restaurant on Holland Avenue in Westover, near Morgantown, said she learned her staff had sold the winning ticket when lottery officials contacted the business Sunday morning. She wasn't at work, she said, "but I didn't mind [coming in] for this.''

"We got a phone call [saying] that we had to meet with them,'' said Ms. Stone, 27. "They asked us to keep it kind of quiet.''

Word leaked out, however, and Ms. Stone said she eventually heard that the winnings would be split by a group. She said she doesn't know them, or who bought the ticket around 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

"There are so many people who come in and out of here. But I'm so excited for them," she said.

"We'll get to congratulate the winners [at the news conference] and be excited for them."