Clear Lake, Iowa, woman Donna Matlock won $30,000 just three weeks before her planned retirement and plans to use the money towards an upcoming move.
Donna Matlock of Clear Lake, Iowa, was just three weeks away from her planned retirement when an unexpected $30,000 prize gave her another reason to look forward to the next chapter.
Matlock, a consultant for the Iowa Department of Education, won the first top prize in the Iowa Lottery’s new “Pirate’s Treasure” scratch game. The ticket was purchased by her husband, Mark, at Kwik Star on North 20th Street in Clear Lake.
Matlock played the ticket a few days after her husband bought it. When she uncovered the $30,000 prize, she initially struggled to believe what she was seeing.
“I look and I’m like, ‘No, this can’t be!’” Matlock said with a laugh. “I asked my husband to scan it, and sure enough, it was $30,000!”
The timing of the win is particularly notable for Matlock, who is planning to retire next month. She said she intends to put the winnings towards an upcoming move after her retirement.
For Matlock, the unexpected prize arrives at a time when she is already preparing for a significant change in her life, with retirement and a move both on the horizon.
