John McCarthy
DES MOINES — In a small Iowa town of about 450 people, one resident learned it’s hard to keep a secret, especially one as big as winning the lottery.
Susan Weber of Stacyville said everyone learned from Facebook that someone in town hit a jackpot lottery prize but didn’t know who among them was the winner, according to a Jan. 22 news release from Iowa lottery officials.
Only a couple of people knew Weber hit the $23,551.75 “Jumbo Bucks Progressive” game jackpot, officials said.
“I was shaking so bad, I couldn’t believe it,” she told lottery officials.
Weber’s daughter works at a hospital and told her mother the halls were buzzing with speculation and excitement, according to the release.
“My daughter says, ‘Everybody’s talking about it!’” the winner told officials. After claiming her prize, Weber said she was prepared to “be getting all kinds of phone calls.”
“I won’t be surprised if I make the local paper,” Weber said.
The winning ticket was purchased at K & N Mini Mart in Stacyville, officials said. Stacyville is about a 160-mile drive north from Des Moines.
