WINTERSET SCHOOL CUSTODIAN WINS $50,000

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Brad Schmidt Wins Top Prize in Scratch Game

DES MOINES, Iowa - A central Iowa man has won a substantial prize playing an Iowa Lottery scratch game.

Brad Schmidt, 57, of Winterset won $50,000 playing the “$50 Grand” instant-scratch game. He purchased the winning ticket at Casey's, 527 W. Summit St. in Winterset and claimed his prize at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Des Moines.

Schmidt, who works as a custodian for Winterset schools, was on his way to work when he decided to stop for cigarettes. Then one particular lottery ticket caught his eye.

“I told the [clerk] to give me one of [those] 50 Grand tickets,” he said. “I was sitting in my truck and I scratched it – and I couldn't believe my eyes.”

Schmidt then called in to work and he was able to take the day off to come claim his prize. He sent his girlfriend Julie a text message to tell her he'd won.

“I sent her a text that said, ‘I won big - call me,’” he laughed.

When she finally connected with him on the phone, Julie didn't believe him.

“I thought he was talking about like $200. I had to call him back and ask him if he was playing with me!” she laughed.

Schmidt said he will pay bills with his prize money. He'd also like to take a vacation.

“I've [wanted] to take my son up to northern Minnesota [to fish] so we'll probably plan a trip,” he said.

$50 Grand is a $5 scratch game. If a player matches any of “Their Numbers” to any of the “Winning Numbers,” he or she wins the prize shown for that number. If a player finds a “Cash” symbol in the “Bonus Box,” he or she wins the prize shown instantly. The overall odds of winning in the game are 1 in 4.

Schmidt claimed the fifth top prize in the game. Three top prizes of $50,000 are still up for grabs in the game as well as approximately 60 prizes of $1,000 and 200 prizes of $250.

Since the Iowa Lottery's inception in 1985, more than $2.1 billion has been awarded in prizes and more than $1.1 billion has been raised for state programs.