Dysart man claims $1 million lottery ticket, officials confirm big local win

A small town in the state of Iowa is basking in the glory of the big lottery win.

A man who resides in the town of Dysart has successfully won the grand prize in the Powerball lottery, valuing an astonishing one million dollars.

This news was confirmed by the officials from the lottery this week. This is a victory that does not occur frequently, and it particularly does not happen in smaller towns. It feels great when someone from back home wins.

A lucky ticket just one number short

The winner is William Zak, a resident of Dysart in Tama County. His Powerball ticket matched all five white numbers in the December 20 drawing. That combination earned him a $1 million prize.

Zak was just one number away from winning the massive jackpot that night, which was worth about $1.43 billion. Even so, matching all five white balls is a rare achievement and a huge win on its own.

According to the Iowa Lottery, Zak’s ticket was one of the top winners from that drawing.

Where the ticket was bought

Zak bought his winning ticket at a Kwik Star store in Vinton. Like many players, he likely picked up the ticket during a normal stop, never expecting it to turn into a million-dollar moment.

Local stores that sell winning tickets often become small landmarks overnight. People stop by, talk about the win, and sometimes even try their luck at the same place.

Claiming the prize

Lottery officials said Zak claimed his prize on Friday at the lottery’s main office in Clive.

Claiming a large prize usually involves paperwork, ID checks, and time to choose how the money will be paid.

Officials did not share detailed plans about how Zak will use his winnings.

Many winners choose to take time before making big decisions, and the lottery often encourages that approach.

Another massive Powerball win days later

Just a few days after Zak’s win, Powerball made headlines again. A single ticket won the $1.82 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve.

That winning ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, just outside Little Rock, Arkansas.

It was one of the largest lottery jackpots ever and drew attention across the country.

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