Coralville man claims $1 million Powerball prize

CLIVE - A Coralville man became a millionaire on Friday after claiming his $1 million Powerball prize at the Iowa Lottery Headquarters in Clive.

Jeff Tomlinson Jr.'s ticket was purchased at a North Liberty Kum & Go, 610 N. Kansas Ave. and matched five numbers in Wednesday's Powerball ticket drawing.

Tomlinson said Kum & Go employees suspected he was the winner of the prize when they learned the winning ticket was purchased Wednesday night because he usually enters the store at that hour.

Tomlinson, who works at Rockwell Collins as an eletronics technician, is currently studying at Kirkwood Community College and plans to transfer to the University of Iowa to study engineering. Tomlinson said in an interview with Iowa Lottery officials that he wants to use the money to further his education and save for his daughter's college education.

He also plans to pay off debt from student loans, his house and car. He also plans to build a house for his family.