PERRY MAN WINS BIG, AGAIN!

Austin Ballentine Jr. Claims $30,000 Prize from September 26 Powerball® Drawing

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Perry man won a $30,000 prize from the September 26 Powerball drawing.

But this isn't the first time Austin Ballentine Jr. has won big. Back in November 2001, he won the top prize of $30,000 on the "Crossword" scratch ticket. And then Ballentine won another $30,000 on the same instant-scratch game in September 2002.

Ballentine claimed his latest prize Monday at the Iowa Lottery's headquarters in Des Moines. He asked that the lottery wait a few days before releasing the win to the public so he could surprise his wife with the news. He bought his winning Powerball ticket at Casey's, 1202 Sugar Grove Ave. in Dallas Center.

The winning numbers on September 26 were 18-20-34-36-39 and Powerball 19. The Power Play multiplier was 3. Ballentine matched four of the first five numbers drawn and the Powerball to win a $10,000 prize. He added the Power Play® to his ticket, multiplying his $10,000 win by three to win a total of $30,000.

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 Web site 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 Iowa Lottery's inception in 1985, its players have won more than $2.4 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised nearly $1.2 billion for state programs.