Two from area win lotteries

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Dennis Cornelius of Perryville owes the Dallas Cowboys' quarterbacks a pat on the back of their shirts. An avid Dallas football fan, he used the numbers of five Cowboy quarterbacks for his SHOW ME 5 picks, and it paid off.

Cornelius' 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18 won him a $100,000 payoff. Cornelius, a barrel shipper for the Perryville Stave Mill, is one of two big lottery winners.

Richard Bergen, of Scott City, Mo., who works at Southeast Missouri Hospital, recently uncovered a $30,000 top prize in the "Diamond Bingo" scratcher game.

Cornelius bought two $1 tickets with the same numbers, using the quarterback numbers he has played for years. He purchased his winning tickets at the Perryville Conoco, which received $1,000 for selling the winning tickets.

Cornelius said he plans to buy a new four-wheel drive truck, with Cowboys colors -- blue with gray interior.

Bergen told lottery authorities he seldom purchased lottery tickets. He plans to use his winnings to pay off a student loan and share some money with his mother and grandmother.

Diamond Bingo is the 395th scratcher game offered by the Missouri Lottery.