Apr 8, 2003 2 min read

Sponsors sought Uniontown Police Chief Kyle W. Sneddon is asking all residents to help a 31-year-old West Virginia state police trooper who was critically injured Oct 10 by a gunshot wound to the head, while responding to a domestic dispute near Hedgesville, W.Va.

Sneddon said Mark Simala, special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be running in the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic (12.4 miles), rated one of the top and toughest road races in the nation on May 24 to raise funds for Trooper First Class R.J. Elswich, an eight-year veteran of the West Virginia state police.

Sneddon said although the competition is world-class, Simala will not be starting from the pole position. He will be the last runner to start the race. Sneddon said for every racer he passes from start to finish he needs people to sponsor him for a penny per person, which would be only a $4 donation, if he passes 400 racers.

Pledges by mail can be directed to Simala at Drug Unit, P.O. Box 2212, Weirton, W.Va. 26062. Questions should be directed to Simala at 304-797-8574 or 304-797-5700.

Daley offers help

State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, in conjunction with the state treasurer’s office Bureau of Unclaimed Property, is offering residents of the 49th Legislative District an opportunity to see if they have money being held in the state treasury.

The unclaimed property service will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, in Daley’s Fayette County office at 113A Thornton Road on Route 166 in Redstone Township.

Bureau representatives will be equipped with laptop computers able to determine, on the spot, if visitors have unclaimed property.

Treasury officials estimate that one in 14 people is entitled to some of the $660 million on the unclaimed property books. The average claim is about $1,000.

Common types of unclaimed property are inactive bank accounts, stocks or dividends, uncashed payroll or accounts payable checks, uncollected utility deposits, unredeemed gift certificates and safe deposit box contents. Last year, the treasury received $71 million in unclaimed cash alone and returned $18.1 million in cash and stock.

For more information on the unclaimed property service, visit www.patreasury.org.