$500,000 Prize is Latest Reason Woman is Thankful for Move to Iowa
Melissa Runnels Wins Top Prize in "$500,000 CA$H" Game
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CLIVE, Iowa — A Des Moines woman's $500,000 prize is the latest reason she is thankful she decided to take a chance and move to Iowa.
"Everybody's always asking, 'Why Iowa? Why Iowa?' Now I know why Iowa," said Melissa Runnels.
Runnels won the 11th top prize in the Iowa Lottery's "$500,000 CA$H" scratch game. She purchased her winning ticket at Git N Go, 1307 Army Post Rd. in Des Moines, and claimed her prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Clive.
"I wanted a change for my life. The economy is not what it was, we were on one income," Runnels said.
Since moving to Iowa, Runnels has opened an online glitter distribution business. She said her winnings will help her venture grow. Runnels said she also plans to donate some money to her church, and possibly purchase a home.
"I have a three-year-old son and I would like him to have stability and a home to grow up in that's his," Runnels said. "I worked hard to get where I'm at and I've come a long way, and it's finally paying off."
The $500,000 CA$H game is a $50 scratch game that features prizes ranging from $50 up to $500,000. Players try to match numbers in the playing area on tickets in the game to win a prize. The game has overall odds of winning of 1 in 3.09. For more information about this game, and the number of prizes still available, visit www.ialottery.com.
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