Published: November 12, 2009 06:39 am      

Russell man surprised by PCH Prize Patrol

Jack Layne wins $10,000

Russell — Jack Layne was awakened from a sound slumber by the persistent pounding on his apartment door Wednesday afternoon.

But the 59-year-old night-shift-working security guard had 10,000 reasons to get up out of bed and answer.

Layne was the astonished “victim” of an ambush by the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol.

Just as in the famous television commercials, PCH representatives Elliott Maldonado and Chris McDonough showed up at Layne’s residence in downtown Russell to deliver balloons, a bouquet of flowers and, most importantly, a check for $10,000.

Layne’s reaction? “Wow!”

“Is this a real check?” he asked, after being handed an oversized novelty check by the two Prize Patrol members.

“No, sir, you can’t take that to your bank,” Maldonado replied. “But I’ve got your real check out in the van.”

Layne said he planned to use the money to “pay off some bills, pay taxes.”

He also said entering contests was a hobby of sorts for him, “but this is the only one I’ve won.”

Layne said he also never would have believed he would be a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes winner.

The Prize Patrol’s visit to Russell was part of a special 101-city blitz the sweepstakes giant is sponsoring this week, Maldonado said. Part of the reason for the promotion is to let people know that PCH is, indeed, “for real” and really does pass out big checks, he said.

In fact, Maldonado said PCH is referring to the prizes it’s passing out this week as “reality checks.”

He said PCH also wanted people to beware of other sweepstakes promotions that employ tactics similar to PCH’s.

“One way you can tell it’s really Publishers Clearing House is that we’ll never ask you to give us money before we give you your prize,” he said.

McDonough said Cincinnati was her and her partner’s next stop for a prize delivery.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.