COUNCIL BLUFFS MAN WINS $10,000 LOTTERY PRIZE

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Stephen Ronk Claims $10,000 Prize from September 23 Powerball® Drawing

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man finally discovered his $10,000 win from the September 23 Powerball drawing!

Stephen Ronk, 51, said he doesn't check his numbers very often because he likes to play ten draws at a time. When he went to buy his next round of tickets, he was surprised at what happened.

"Today the machine says, 'We have a winner!'" said Ronk.

Ronk knows the clerk who validated the ticket for him. He said she was more excited than he was.

"She said, 'Well, you won! $10,000!' She was more excited than I was; I was just stunned!" Ronk said.

Ronk said he stopped to tell his coffee buddies after he got over the shock of winning. Ronk is currently taking hiatus from work as a meter service man for Council Bluffs Waterworks due to injury.

After telling his friends Friday, Ronk went directly to the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Council Bluffs to claim his prize. He bought the winning ticket at Hy-Vee, 1706 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs.

Ronk had not yet told his wife Joyce, but said he planned to soon.

"I have to – she does my bookkeeping! I might even let her take me out to dinner tonight," he said jokingly.

Ronk used to play Powerball in a pool with co-workers, but has since stopped.

"Now that we're not in the group anymore, I get to keep it all," Ronk said with a laugh.

Ronk said he plans to use his winnings to plan for retirement.

As for advice for other players, Ronk had a few words of wisdom to share.

"Keep playing, I guess. Your number's bound to come up sooner or later," he said.

The winning numbers on September 23 were 7-8-20-25-29 and Powerball 11. The Power Play multiplier was 5. Ronk matched four of the first five numbers drawn and the Powerball to win a $10,000 prize. Had he added the Power Play® to his ticket, Ronk would have multiplied his $10,000 win by five to win a total of $50,000.

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.