Iowa Lottery

Emmet County Woman Wins First $50,000 Top Prize In New Lottery Game

Sherry Spiker Wins First Top Prize Playing "Hot $50,000" Scratch Game

  Hear Sherry tell her story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - An Emmet County woman said she was in total shock when she discovered she'd won a top prize of $50,000 playing the lottery's new "Hot $50,000" instant-scratch game.

Sherry Spiker, 52, happened to be standing in the Casey's, 307 S. Fourth Ave. in Armstrong where she had purchased the ticket when she scratched it.

"I know the manager there and I made her take the ticket and look at it," Spiker said. "I just couldn't believe it."

Spiker, who is from Armstrong, said her husband and kids were working at the time of her win, so she was racking her brain about who to call first.

"I called my boss right away and said, 'I'm not going to be in tomorrow,'" Spiker said. "It was just such a shock!"

Spiker said this prize is the largest amount she and her family have ever won.

"Everybody stopped by last night; they wanted to see the ticket," she said. "And it came at a really good time."

Spiker, who works in human resources and social services for a care center in Armstrong, said she plans to use some of her winnings to share with her children and grandchildren, as well as purchase a newer motorcycle for her husband.

Spiker claimed her prize April 26 at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Mason City.

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