Iowa Lottery

Council Bluffs Man Wins First Top Prize Playing "Silver Bells" Scratch Game

Jeff Wimer Wins Top Prize of $50,000 Playing "Silver Bells" Scratch Game

  Hear Jeff tell his story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - A Council Bluffs man said he was shocked to win the first top prize of $50,000 playing the lottery's "Silver Bells" instant-scratch game.

Jeff Wimer, 49, said he decided to try the Silver Bells game because he enjoys playing scratch games and noticed it was a new ticket.

"I bought three of them and it was the one in between that hit the big one," Wimer said. "I really had to scratch my head and grab my other glasses and everything else in order to know if I was seeing exactly what I was seeing."

Wimer said the first person he told was his girlfriend, Carol.

"She was kind of dumbfounded. This is a once in a lifetime type thing," he said.

Wimer, who is a welder for Paxton & Vierling Steel in Carter Lake, said he plans to use some of his winnings to buy a new vehicle as well as share some with his family.

Wimer claimed his prize Monday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Council Bluffs. He purchased the winning ticket at Eddy's, 611 E. Broadway in Council Bluffs.