CHARLES CITY WOMAN WINS $15,000

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Minessa Wiltse Wins Top Prize in Scratch Game

DES MOINES, Iowa - A northern Iowa woman recently won the top prize in an Iowa Lottery scratch game.

Minessa Wiltse, 40, of Charles City won $15,000 playing the “Fire & Dice” instant-scratch game. She purchased the winning ticket at Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits, 901 Kelly St. in Charles City and claimed the prize at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Mason City.

Wiltse said she doesn't play scratch games very often. But this ticket caught her eye.

“It was a new game and I just bought one,” she said.

She was in shock when she uncovered a big winner!

“I couldn't believe it,” she said. “I had to keep checking it to make sure it was [a winner].”

Wiltse said she will pay bills with her winnings.

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.