TREASURER'S OFFICE SEEKS OWNERS OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

In addition to a night of rodeo and country music entertainment, visitors to the 43rd annual Sikeston Jaycees Bootheel Rodeo could learn about unclaimed cash and property they rightfully own.

Representatives from the Missouri State Treasurer's office will be at the rodeo grounds today and Thursday with computer equipment to search about 500,000 names of people who might have cash and property in the custody of the state.

State Treasure Bob Holden said the state has about $80 million in unclaimed property. He said Missouri has set up the largest lost and found in the country in an attempt to match residents property.

By law, abandoned property must be turned over to the state when the holders -- banks, busineses, insurance companies and government agencies -- have had no contact with the owners for seven years or more.

Cash is held in a state account forever, or until a rightful heir comes forward.

Holden said the state returned $2.7 million in cash and property last year but took in another $15 million in unclaimed property.

Those people unable to visit the treasurer's staff at the rodeo grounds also can contact the state treasurer's office by listing a name, address, social security number and previous addresses and mailing the request to the State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 1004, Jefferson City, Mo., 65102-1004.