POLK COUNTY 'FABULOUS 6' WIN BIG WITH POWER PLAY

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Group of Six Coworkers Claim $50,000 Prize from Wednesday Powerball® Drawing

DES MOINES, Iowa – After playing the same numbers for nearly five years, a group of six Polk County coworkers won a $50,000 Powerball prize.

The women, calling themselves the "Fabulous 6," said they pool their money to play Powerball every Wednesday and Saturday.

"We get a group of numbers that we've played religiously and then we also get easy picks. The group of numbers that we won on was the group of numbers that we've played for the past five years. We also play the Power Play option, so instead of winning $10,000, we won $50,000!" Kathy Jacob of Urbandale said as her coworkers cheered in the background.

The numbers the women use for every drawing happen to be their birthdays.

"So yes, you can play and win by using your birthdays," Jacob said with a laugh.

Jacob was the one to realize they had the winning numbers, so it was up to her to let the other group members know.

"I couldn't believe it. I had one of my partners check them, and then we had someone else check them, and then we locked up the ticket!" she said.

In the past, the group has won small prizes playing Powerball, but nothing near $50,000.

"My heart started palpitating and my hands started shaking. It was hard to catch my breath and I just thought, 'Oh wow, five years! We finally hit it after five years!'" Jacob said.

The group hadn't told anyone about the win yet, including their spouses and other coworkers in the Polk County Community, Family and Youth Services Division. They were planning to announce the news at work by parading around the office with their big ceremonial check.

The winning numbers in Wednesday's $77.5 million Powerball jackpot drawing were 6-15-20-26-31 and Powerball 9. The Power Play multiplier was 5. The group matched four of the first five numbers drawn and the Powerball to win a $10,000 prize. Because they added the Power Play® to their ticket, the Fabulous 6 multiplied their $10,000 win by five to win a total of $50,000.

The group said they are definitely going to continue playing, and are excited for the introduction of Mega Millions® to Iowa.

"We're in! We’ll see you Monday," laughed Lillie Murrell.

The group was relieved at their choice to add the Power Play option to their tickets.

"Exercise the option. It's worth it, very worth the dollar," said Jacob. "We've been putting in $10 every month to play and the Power Play really is good."

None of the women has specific plans for her winnings yet, as they claimed the ticket soon after discovering the win.

The women claimed their prize Thursday at the Iowa Lottery's headquarters in Des Moines. The winning ticket was purchased at Quik Trip, 4600 Merle Hay Rd. in Urbandale.

Pictured in the photograph are: (front, left to right) Mary Jo Smith of Runnells, Shelly Helm of Des Moines, Connie Martindale of Des Moines; (back) Kathy Jacob, Toni Guy-Scott of Des Moines and Lillie Murrell, also of Des Moines. The women range in age from 36 to 60.

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 more than $1.2 billion for state programs.