Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Jennifer Coker receives her Can Man Jack of Hearts winnings from board members pictured left to right: Jackie Lockwood, Dusty Pence, Jennifer Coker (winner), Tom Merrill, Donna Merrill, and Barbara Walter. Also pictured is Lori Wieseler, owner of the Winners Circle.

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By Charity Maness

HOT SPRINGS – Local resident Jennifer Coker was the winner of the largest Can Man Jack of hearts jackpot Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at the Winners Circle, in Hot Springs.

“I screamed,” admitted Coker when she realized she had the winning ticket. 

“It was a pretty big deal to have your number picked,” explained Jacki Lockwood, Jack of Hearts committee member, “after all, there were only two cards left and she knew she stood a pretty good chance of winning.”

This Jack of Hearts game began in April and steadily grew until there were but two cards left.

Coker also had her ticket number called in May but unfortunately she pulled the five of clubs at that time. Undaunted, she continued to play in hopes of someday winning.

“I played every Tuesday,” said Coker.

No matter the size of the pot won, Coker won’t let the winnings go to her head.

“My daughter, Brooke Jensen, is attending West Dakota Tech for medical coding and billing,” said Coker. And this is where she plans on using her winnings, “to help put my daughter through college.” 

The Can Man Jack of Hearts was born through the desire to keep the spirit of Roger Klein, aka the Can Man, alive.

After Klein passed away the community rallied and began a scholarship fund in his name, the Can Man Can Do scholarship to help fund trade school scholarships in Klein’s name.

To date, through the recycling of Klein’s massive collection of cans, generous donations and the Jack of Hearts game, the Can Man Can Do scholarship has awarded 8 recipients a total of $10,500 in scholarship funds.

The Can Man Can Do committee will be taking a break through summer and plan to begin the Jack of Hearts game once again in August.

For more information on the scholarship visit their Facebook page at Can Man, Can Do Trade scholarship fund.