Clinton County Man Gets Shaky After Winning A $100,000 Lottery Prize
Russell Smith Claims First Top Prize In New 'Star' Scratch Game
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CLIVE, Iowa – A Clinton County man couldn't believe it when he won a $100,000 lottery prize so he had his ticket verified just to be sure.
"The gal at the counter said that she couldn't cash it," said Russell Smith of De Witt. "She said, 'You won $100,000!' And of course, you know, you get weak at the knees and hair stands up on your arm."
Smith, who is 64 and drives a truck for C & W Trucking and Sons, Inc. in Bettendorf, said he likes to buy lottery tickets before leaving his hometown to drive out of state. He bought his winning ticket at his local Casey's at 1515 11th St.
"I buy the tickets and then I'll take off," explained Smith. "And then, you know if I win, at least I'm coming back home."
Smith claimed the first of eight top prizes of $100,000 available in the lottery's new "Star" scratch game on Friday the 13th at the lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids.
"Hopefully it gives me good luck for 13 years or so," laughed Smith.
He said he shared the good news with his co-workers.
"I've told the owner's mother and my dispatcher," he said. "When I called in for a check call, my dispatcher, he goes, "Are you calling in with your two-week notice?" And I said, "No. If it had another zero, I would be."
Smith said he plans to pay off a vehicle, some bills and have a bit left over for some relaxing fun, too.
"Probably camp and fish the rest of the summer," he said.
The Star scratch game is a $10 scratch game. More details about how to play this game, and number of prizes still up for grabs in it can be found on the Iowa Lottery's website, www.ialottery.com.
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