Iowa Lottery

Late-Night Win Keeps Council Bluffs Woman Up All Night

Donna Petry Wins Top Prize of $30,000 Playing "Crossword" Scratch Game

  Hear Donna tell her story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - After discovering she was the winner of a $30,000 lottery prize at midnight, a Council Bluffs woman said she didn't get much sleep.

Donna Petry, 51, said she scratched her "Crossword" ticket before going to bed, but didn’t make it to bed until much later.

"I woke up my son and said, 'I'm a big winner!'" Petry said.

Petry said she also woke up her daughter to tell her the big news. While they didn't believe it at first, they were excited when they realized their mom had won big.

"I looked at it about fifteen times," Petry said.

Petry had her ticket validated at Kwik Shop, 1602 Ave. G in Council Bluffs where she purchased the ticket.

"They told me I had to sign it right away and then told me I had to claim it here," Petry said as she claimed her prize Jan. 24 at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Council Bluffs.

Petry, who is a bartender for Sugar's Lounge in Council Bluffs, said she plans to use some of her winnings to pay bills and have some dental work done.