Waterloo man claims $2 million Powerball prize

May 11—CLIVE — A Waterloo man has claimed two prizes he won in Saturday's Powerball drawing — one a bit bigger than the other.

Anton Garrett claimed a total of $2,000,021 in Powerball prizes. He bought five Powerball plays on one ticket for Saturday's drawing, and on one of those plays he won a $21 prize. On another, he won $2 million.

He chose his own numbers, playing a combination of family birthdays, anniversaries and other significant dates.

"I always dreamed I would win," Garrett said as he claimed his prize Monday at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. "It's something I could just see."

Garrett, 48, who works at Tyson Foods in Waterloo as a forklift operator, bought his winning ticket at New Star Liquor, 1625 W. Fourth St.

On one of his plays, he initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. But he also added the Power Play option to his ticket, which multiplied that prize to $2 million. It multiplied his smaller prize from an initial $7 to $21.

His ticket was the only person in the country to win a $2 million prize in Saturday's drawing.

Garrett's wife, Astrid, traveled with him as he claimed his prize, and admitted that she had given him a hard time about buying lottery tickets.

"But I did good Saturday," Garrett said with a laugh.

Saturday's winning numbers were: 12-17-20-21-26 and Powerball 8. The Power Play number was 3. No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, so the big prize climbs to an estimated $168 million annuity ($117 million lump-sum option) for Wednesday.

New Star Liquor will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $2 million-winning ticket.

Garrett said he learned early Sunday that he had won a big prize when he stopped at another nearby store for coffee and had the clerk there check his Powerball tickets. The lottery terminal unexpectedly began printing out ticket receipts and a prize claim form.

"The machine started spitting out all this paper," Garrett said. "The clerk said, 'What's all this?' Then he read it and said, 'I think you won $2 million!'"

Garrett said that he and his wife planned to invest his winnings for retirement and buy a new home.

Garrett's prize is Iowa's second big Powerball win this year. In February, a western Iowa man claimed a $500,000 Powerball prize. Gene Dice Sr. of Sergeant Bluff had purchased his ticket at a local convenience store for the Feb. 20 drawing.

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MELODY PARKER

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WATERLOO — Some lucky someone is holding a Powerball ticket to a $2 million prize in Saturday's drawing. The $2 million-winning ticket was purchased at New Star Liquor, 1625 W. Fourth St. The ticket came within one number of having at least a share of Saturday's $155.9 million jackpot.

The ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. But whoever bought the ticket also added the Power Play® option to the purchase, which multiplies the prize at the Match 5 level to $2 million.

The Waterloo ticket was the only one in the country to win a $2 million prize in Saturday's drawing.

Saturday's winning numbers were: 12-17-20-21-26 and Powerball 8. The Power Play number was 3. No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, so the big prize climbs to an estimated $168 million annuity ($117 million lump-sum option) for Wednesday.

New Star Liquor will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $2 million-winning ticket.

This is Iowa's second big Powerball win this year.

Prizes of $2 million must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. The lottery's offices are open Monday through Friday, and prize claims are currently available by appointment. The winner or winners of the Waterloo prize can call the lottery at (515) 725-7900 to make an appointment to claim it.

In February, a western Iowa man claimed a $500,000 Powerball prize. Gene Dice of Sergeant Bluff had purchased his ticket at a local convenience store for the Feb. 20 drawing.

Powerball prizes won in Iowa must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for which they were won.

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