DES MOINES, Iowa - When a Davenport woman discovered she'd won the very last top prize of $100,000 playing the "Triple Platinum 777" game on her break at work, she couldn't believe what she saw.

Jolene Ronek, 50, scratched the ticket during her evening break where she works as a machinist.

"I started shaking and I couldn't believe what I saw," Ronek said. "I took it to the break room to show all the other guys and I was in tears. They told me to sign it right away."

Ronek said her head was fuzzy because she couldn't believe the win was real.

"I kept looking at those zeros and going, 'No, that isn't right,'" she said.

Ronek told her family about her big win before claiming her prize Thursday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids. Ronek said it also put everyone at work in a great mood for the rest of the evening shift.

"One of the guys at work got on the radio and told everyone," Ronek said with a laugh. "Everybody was just happy that someone they knew won."

Ronek said she was really surprised to get the big winner, because it was the very first ticket in a new pack of Triple Platinum 777 tickets at the QC Mart, 1402 State St. in Bettendorf.

Ronek said she's looking forward to using her winnings to become debt-free and also plans to use some to take a trip this summer.

"We travel all over riding motorcycles," she said.

Triple Platinum 777 was a $10 scratch game. Players scratched the "dollar" symbols and the "bonus box." If they revealed the "7" game symbol, they won the prize shown for that symbol. If they revealed the "77" game symbol, they won double the prize shown for that symbol. If they revealed the "777" game symbol, they won triple the prize shown for that symbol.  If they got two like symbols in "bonus box," they won $50 instantly. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game were 1 in 3.11.

Players can enter eligible nonwinning scratch tickets online to earn "Points For Prizes™" points. The point value will be revealed to the player on the website upon successful submission of each eligible valid ticket. There is a limit of 30 ticket entries per day. To participate in Points For Prizes™, a player must register for a free account at ialottery.com. Registration is a one-time process. Merchandise that can be ordered by using points will be listed on the website in the Points For Prizes™ online store. Players can choose from items in categories such as apparel, automotive, jewelry, sporting, tools and more.

Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.8 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

 

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Sandra Speer Wins Top Prize of $50,000 Playing "Super Crossword" Scratch Game

 

DES MOINES, Iowa - A Davenport woman said she and her husband were expecting to get a $5,000 check right up until they claimed their prize at an Iowa Lottery regional office.

Sandra Speer, 58, said she and her husband, Bob, were sure she'd won a $5,000 prize on her "Super Crossword" scratch ticket, but soon learned she'd actually won a top prize of $50,000.

"Until we got up here we thought we won $5,000, so I'm still in shock," Speer said.

Speer said even when she thought it was a $5,000 prize, Bob didn't believe her. She even took the ticket to a local retailer to have it scanned, but still was unable to clearly understand what she'd won.

"Well, she printed up a receipt, but there's no commas, so we thought it was five thousand," Speer said.

Speer said when she claimed her prize Wednesday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids, she could've fallen over when she heard what she'd actually won. She hadn't yet told anyone the news about her big win.

"I don't know who I want to share it with first," she said.

Speer said she plans to use some of her winnings to take a vacation. She purchased her winning ticket at Casey's, 3700 W. Locust St. in Davenport.

Super Crossword is a $5 scratch game. Players win a prize by scratching the "your letters" then scratching the corresponding letters found in Puzzles 1 and 2 and the "bonus word." If players have scratched at least three complete words in Puzzle 1 or 2, they win the corresponding prize shown in the prize legend for that puzzle. If players uncover all six letters in the "bonus word" by scratching the letters that match the "your letters" they win the prize shown in the prize box.

Ten top prizes of $50,000 are still up for grabs in Super Crossword, as well as eight prizes of $5,000, 120 prizes of $500 and more than 865 prizes of $100.

Players can enter eligible non-winning scratch tickets online to earn "Points For Prizes™" points. The point value will be revealed to the player on the website upon successful submission of each eligible valid ticket. There is a limit of 30 ticket entries per day. To participate in Points For Prizes™, a player must register for a free account at ialottery.com. Registration is a one-time process. Merchandise that can be ordered by using points will be listed on the website in the Points For Prizes™ online store. Players can choose from items in categories such as apparel, automotive, jewelry, sporting, tools and more.

Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.8 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

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Allen Phelps Wins $10,000 Prize in Nov. 19 Powerball^® Drawing

DES MOINES, Iowa - A Long Grove man was unaware he'd won a $10,000 prize in the Nov. 19 Powerball^® drawing until he had his ticket validated.

Allen Phelps, 48, just happened to have his ticket validated at a local retailer and was shocked to learn what he'd won.

"[The clerk] said, 'Do you know what you won?' And I said, 'No.'" Phelps said. "And she said, 'Ten grand!'"

Phelps said he was celebrating his wife, Nancy's, birthday the night of the drawing and wasn't near a television to watch the Powerball drawing, so he was totally unaware of how much he'd won.

"The clerk was so excited. She asked to take a picture of the ticket!" Phelps said.

Phelps said Nancy didn't believe the news and he had to show her the ticket to prove it.

"I said, 'I'll be home in ten minutes to prove it!'" Phelps said with a laugh.

Phelps purchased his winning ticket at DeWitt Travel Mart, 630 S. Sixth Ave. in DeWitt. He won the $10,000 prize using his own numbers.

"I always use my own numbers," Phelps said. "Some are special to me, like my dad's birthday and date of death."

Phelps claimed his prize Nov. 22 at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids. He said he plans to use some of his winnings to purchase a newer tractor for his property.

The winning numbers in the $59.9 million Powerball jackpot drawing on Nov. 19 were: 9-16-17-28-30 and Powerball 11. The Power Play^® multiplier was 3. Phelps won a $10,000 prize by matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball. Had he added the Power Play to his ticket, Phelps would have multiplied his $10,000 win by three to win a $30,000 prize.

There was one jackpot winner in the Nov. 19 drawing from Pennsylvania.

Players can increase their prizes with the Power Play (except the jackpot) up to five times. The cost is $1 per play. The Power Play number, 2 through 5, is chosen at the beginning of the drawing indicating the amount prizes (except the jackpot) will be multiplied if that number is drawn.

For players who choose the Power Play and match five white balls (regularly a $200,000 prize), the multiplier will always be 5, so those players would win an instant $1 million.

Winning numbers may be checked at the lottery website at www.ialottery.com or through the winning numbers' hot line at (515) 323-4633. Winning numbers may also be checked with lottery retail outlets or by calling the lottery at (515) 725-7900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Players may visit the Iowa Lottery at 2323 Grand Ave. in Des Moines or go to one of the lottery's regional offices in Council Bluffs, Storm Lake, Mason City or Cedar Rapids to claim prizes.

Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.7 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

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