—Submitted photo Nick Vanlangen of Ellsworth accepts his $10,000 prize from Iowa Lottery headquarters Monday. Vanlangen won playing a “$100,000 Mega Crossword” scratch game. He purchased the ticket at Kum & Go in Ellsworth recently.

CLIVE – A routine morning for a Hamilton County man became anything but routine after he scratched off a $10,000 lottery prize.

Nick Vanlangen of Ellsworth won the big prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “$100,000 Mega Crossword” scratch game. He purchased his winning ticket on a recent morning at Kum & Go, 1111 Iowa Highway 175 in Ellsworth.

“I bought a ticket like I normally do when I go to Kum & Go and get my morning soda and breakfast,” said Vanlangen, who claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Clive.

Vanlangen, who works for the city of Ellsworth, said he scratched the ticket when he got to work.

“I started scratching it, and thought I won $10,000,” he recalled. “I looked at it again and thought I won $30.”

He returned to the store later that day to scan the ticket and verify his big win. He said that word of his big win traveled fast around the area, with lots of folks reaching out to wish him well.

“They’ve been texting me and saying congratulations,” he said.

Vanlangen said he plans to save his winnings.