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Former councilman wins $10,000 in sweepstakes
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LUCKY WINNER: The Publishers Clearing House’s Kaitlyn McCoy, of Long Island, presents a check for $10,000 to Herman Starks at his home in Liberty on Tuesday afternoon.
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Herman Starks receives a a check from Publisher's Clearing House for $10,000 on Tuesday afternoon.
STAFF REPORT
LIBERTY — Herman “Pete” Starks, a former longtime Youngstown city councilman, was sitting at his computer at home when the doorbell rang.
Starks looked out the window of his Liberty home Tuesday to see television trucks and a group of people.
“I didn’t know what to think,” he said.
When Starks opened the door, he was greeted by Publishers Clearing House’s Prize Patrol with a $10,000 check.
“I’ve been entering [the contest] since 2000, and I never thought I’d win anything,” Starks said. “When they told me I won $10,000, I couldn’t believe it.”
Starks, a former 22-year Youngstown councilman who last served in 1985, said he’s going to use the money to pay medical expenses related to his recent lung surgery.
“I’m very grateful for this” money, Stark said. “God has been good. I’m very fortunate and happy.”
Though no purchase is necessary to enter the Publishers Clearing House’s sweepstakes, and buying items through the company doesn’t improve a person’s chance to win, Starks is a customer.
“I’ve been ordering different products for years,” he said.
He recently purchased a pair of suspenders, but they’re too wide, he said, not his style.
“I still have the suspenders in a box,” Starks said.