Iowa Lottery

Winning Ticket Sold In Lime Springs Wins $10,000 Lottery Prize

Gerald Miland Wins Top Prize Playing "Cool Cash" Scratch Game

  Hear Gerald tell his story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - A Spring Valley, Minn. man decided to take a short road trip across the Iowa border when he picked up a "Cool Cash" instant-scratch ticket; he never dreamed it would be his luckiest road trip ever.

Gerald Miland, 62, said he and a friend took a drive one evening and happened to cross into Iowa from their hometown just 15 miles from the border of Minnesota. When he bought his Cool Cash ticket, he initially thought he'd won the $10 in gas money he'd just spent, but soon learned it was the top prize of $10,000.

"When I scratched it off I saw the ten and I figured, 'Well, at least I got my gas money back.' So then I scratched a little more and saw another zero and another and another, so that was a good day!" Miland said.

Miland said the friend who was with him couldn't believe he'd won either.

"I just stared at it; I couldn't believe it. He said, 'Well you lucky devil,'" Miland said.

Miland said he plans to use some of his winnings to pay bills as well as pay for his youngest daughter's wedding.

Miland claimed his prize Friday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Mason City. He purchased his winning ticket at MK Travel Plaza, 14046 A County Road in Lime Springs.