Two local men win big in Idaho Lottery games

Two men from eastern Idaho have recently won big money by playing games produced by Idaho Lottery.

On Wednesday evening James Lester purchased an Ultimate Diamond Jackpot ticket at Ransom’s Country Store in Preston and matched the number 10 to the prize jackpot, winning $322,124. That is the largest prize ever won in that game’s history.

“I just about fell over. I was sitting in my truck and I couldn’t believe it. I drove home to show it to my wife,” explained Lester, a resident of Preston for thirty years.

“I got home and looked at him and said, ‘What have you done now?’ That’s when he said ‘I think we won the Lottery.’ And I said ‘na-uh,'” explained Royann Lester, his wife. “We got back in the car, took the ticket back to the store and had them check it to be sure. He won. I didn’t think tickets like this existed. But I do now!”

Lester, who owns a welding shop in Preston, said he plans to pay off his debts and save the remainder of his winnings.

Another local man won big on a different game in Pocatello Wednesday. Randel Hagler claimed a $200,000 check from the scratch game 20X. Hagler bought his winning tickets at the KR’s on Pocatello Creek Road. Hagler says he is a regular player, but never thought he would ever win a prize this large and that his wife couldn’t believe it either.

The couple plan to use their winnings to purchase a new house.