When Jim Baker retired from the machinists union, he and his wife moved home to Dexter from St. Louis. Since then, he has been smoking ribs for the Elks and playing the Missouri Lottery at Town & Country, 707 Specialty Dr., in Dexter. He made his regular purchase of Draw Games tickets on Jan. 28 and included a couple of Scratchers tickets. One of those tickets was a $100,000 winner.
"I usually play one or two every time I get my Lotto tickets," explained Baker. "I play Powerball, Missouri Lotto, Show Me Cash and Mega Millions. I play every Wednesday and Saturday."
Baker said he had an extra $20, so he bought two $5 tickets and a $10 "$1,000,000 Platinum Payout" Scratchers ticket. He scratched them later at home and discovered he was $100,000 richer.
"First one I scratched off from right to left was $4,000," he recalled. "I scratched the next one, and it was $500. I kept going and every (prize) had anywhere from $500 to $10,000.
"Is this possible? This is too good to be true," he told himself.
Excited about the windfall, Baker traveled to Jefferson City the next day to claim his prize.
"Here lately, I've been doing pretty good. I get, either on a scratch off or the Lotto, I'll win a few bucks," he declared. "I'll probably pay my truck off, put some away and probably give some to the kids."
He'll keep playing the Lottery and volunteering with the Elks. His wife, Melba, volunteers at the hospital.
"We stay busy. I'll have to get me another one before I leave," he declared. "I've got another $20 in my pocket."