MECHANICSVILLE MAN WINS $30,000

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Gary Trout Wins Top Prize in Popular Scratch Game

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Cedar County man recently claimed a $30,000 lottery prize.

Gary Trout of Mechanicsville won the top prize playing the “Crossword” (purple newsprint) instant-scratch game. He purchased the winning ticket at Casey's, 207 S. Madison St. in Mechanicsville.

Trout claimed his prize at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids.

Crossword (purple newsprint) is a $3 scratch game. Players win by uncovering at least three complete words in the ticket's puzzle. If a player uncovers 10 words, he/she wins $30,000. The overall odds of winning in the game are about 1 in 4.

Forty-six prizes of $30,000 are still up for grabs in the game, as well as approximately 70 prizes of $3,000, more than 1,000 prizes of $300 and approximately 5,000 prizes of $100.

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.