Blue Rapids Resident Wins $20,000 Lotto Prize

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Blue Rapids resident, Melvin Merrill, has “dug up” a $20,000 top prize, playing a $2 Bonus Crossword instant scratch ticket. Merrill, who works inside a gypsum mine in Blue Rapids, won the top prize by revealing all ten words on his ticket.

“I take care of my mom, who is elderly, and she enjoys playing Bonus Crossword tickets,” said Merrill. “After buying a car for my son, I stopped at a convenience store and purchased two Crossword tickets each for my mom, daughter, and me. When I got home, I scratched my tickets and couldn’t believe it when I revealed ten words. I whooped and hollered.”

Merrill’s daughter and mother, who were in a different room of the house, couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“No one believed me at first when I said I’d won $20,000,” said Merrill. “After checking my ticket several times, I knew there was no mistake that I did win.”

Merrill, who is a single father of two children, plans to share his winnings with his mother and daughter.

“Now I’ll be able to pay off the car I just bought for my son,” said Merrill. “Winning $20,000 came at a great time.”

The winning ticket was purchased at Route 77 Corner Store 1, located at 501 Main St. in Blue Rapids.

For more information on games, promotions, winning numbers, and unclaimed prizes, or to join the free Kansas Lottery Players Club, visit www.kslottery.com.