Iowa Firefighter Wins Huge $1 Million Powerball Prize

There were plenty of things to do during the total solar eclipse on Monday. But no one did anything cooler or more epic than this Iowa firefighter.

In case you forgot, the Powerball jackpot reached $1.326 billion for Saturday's drawing. While someone in Oregon won that jackpot, one person from Iowa won a small chunk of change from that jackpot. Alright, it was a big chunk of change.

A man from Newton, Iowa won $1 million from the Powerball drawing over the weekend. He helps protect his community and he's getting rid of a lot of debt with his big win.

Iowa Firefighter Win $1 Million Powerball Prize

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. The Iowa Lottery announced that the state's newest Powerball millionaire claimed his prize Monday as the total eclipse of the sun was reaching its zenith in the Midwest. He admitted that the timing of it all was something to be remembered.

Trent Baker, 37 and a firefighter, told lottery officials, "That's not lost on me! I was making the joke that man, there's a lot going on this weekend: an earthquake in New York, a total eclipse, and I won the lottery. What else is going to happen next? Maybe we shouldn't ask that question."

Saturday's $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot was won in Oregon. Baker's ticket along with 6 others across the country, matched the first five numbers to win $1 million. Yes, he was just one number away from winning the jackpot.

Baker bought his lucky ticket at Hy-Vee, 1501 First Ave. E. in Newton. Hy-Vee will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $1 million winning ticket.

He told Iowa Lottery officials that he’d already spoken with a financial planner, told that person he needed to pay off his student loans, and made plans to invest the bulk of his winnings.

Baker said he has an immediate purchase to make with his fellow firefighters. He says that he and his fellow firefighters have an unwritten rule that if they end up in pictures or video in the media, they owe the department ice cream, he told lottery officials.

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