Buchanan County Man Wins $50,000 Lottery Prize
Patrick Bilharz Claims Second Top Prize in '$50,000 Holiday Super Crossword' Scratch Game
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CLIVE, Iowa - A fire-proof safe was the first thing a Buchanan County man purchased after scratching off a $50,000 lottery prize.
Patrick Bilharz of Jesup won the second of 12 top prizes available in the Iowa Lottery's new "$50,000 Holiday Super Crossword scratch game."
"It's kind of surreal, to tell you the truth," Bilharz told officials Oct. 8 as he claimed his prize at the lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids. "It couldn't have come at a better time."
Bilharz, 45, purchased his winning ticket at Kwik Star, 841 South St. in Jesup. He initially thought he won $5,000, until his fiancée, Nicole, examined the ticket and pointed out the 10th word.
They returned to Kwik Star to verify the big win on a self-checker, then went to purchase a safe in which to store the ticket through the weekend until they could redeem the prize on Monday at the lottery office.
Bilharz, a painter, said he plans to put his winnings toward rental properties, a new motorcycle and business cards.
"We're going to put it to good use," he said.
The $50,000 Holiday Super Crossword is a $5 scratch game. For more information about this game, and the number of prizes still available, visit www.ialottery.com.
Nonwinning holiday scratch tickets can be entered into the lottery's Fa la la Loot Play it Again® promotion from now through Jan. 8 at 8:59 a.m. The promotion includes $125,000 in cash prizes, including a $20,000 grand prize. Tickets can be entered online or through the LotteryPlus mobile app. For rules and complete details, visit www.ialottery.com.
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