CHARLESTON – The Jackson Herald in Ripley, with today’s edition, is the first newspaper in the state to publish the latest unclaimed property bulletin from State Treasurer John Perdue’s office.

About 13,000 names are included in the latest bulletin, which lists items with values of at least $50. They are the most recent names to be added to the Treasurer’s Office database.

 Another way to search for free is to go www.wvtreasury.com and click on the unclaimed property icon at the bottom of the screen.

 Last fiscal year, West Virginia’s Treasurer’s Office led all other state treasuries in returning 82 percent, or $14.9 million, of what it took in.

 “It’s the people’s money,” said Treasurer Perdue, “and we’re just looking for a way to return it to them.”

 The distribution schedule runs through Feb. 19. The largest number of copies will be found in The Charleston Gazette and Charleston Daily Mail on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 63,630. Both the Wheeling News Register at 25,765 and the Beckley Register Herald at 24,763 are close runners-up. The last paper to run an insert will be The Brooke Review Feb. 19.

History shows the inserts work. Phones ring off the hook in the Treasurer’s unclaimed property division for weeks after an insert is published.

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