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AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has returned $2 billion in unclaimed property to its rightful owners since he took office in January 2015, his office announced this week. “I am proud of the commitment this office has made to reuniting unclaimed property with its rightful owners, and that commitment is reflected in this landmark achievement,” Hegar said. “I encourage everyone to visit ClaimItTexas. org and see if there is money waiting for them.” Since the unclaimed property program began in 1962, Texas has returned more than $3 billion in unclaimed property to its rightful owners, with Hegar’s team returning more than two-thirds of that total in less than eight years. Hegar’s administration reached $2 billion in unclaimed property returns last month, and the landmark threshold is composed of a little more than 2 million individual payments. Hegar’s Unclaimed Property Division surpassed $1 billion in unclaimed property returned in the fall of 2018. The state currently is holding more than $7 billion in cash and other valuables through the program. Unclaimed property includes things such as forgotten utility deposits or other refunds, insurance proceeds, payroll checks, cashier’s checks, dividends, mineral royalties, dormant bank accounts, and abandoned safe-deposit box contents. Businesses generally turn property over to the unclaimed property program after it has been considered dormant for one to five years. You can search ClaimItTexas.org or call 800.321.2274 (CASH) to see if you have unclaimed property.

Canadian volunteer firefighters were called out to a barn fire at the Bill Hext Ranch east of Glazier early Sunday morning. When they arrived, though, the barn roof had already caved in, said Fire Chief Scott Brewster, adding that all the firefighters could do was keep the fire from spreading.

CISD Nurse Molly Kerrigan presentplan expendituresed a COVID update during school trustees’ February meeting, detailing the district’s COVID testing plan, overall case numbers, and current active cases. At its highest point, Kerrigan said, the district had 90 active cases. On Feb. 10, when she gave this report, it had only one. She also explained that the rapid antigen tests that have enabled the school district to track COVID spread among students and staff were funded through a Department of Health and Human Services grant.

Coffee Memorial Blood Center is teaming up with two fun partners to help boost the blood supply this spring. Those who donate blood with Coffee Memorial Blood Center in March will receive a free, limited-edition “I Rocked the Blood Donation” t-shirt from Kids Inc.; a bowling guest pass, good for one free game of bowling at Western Bowl; and one free admission to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

The Coffee Memorial Blood Center will host its next Canadian Community Blood Drive here on Thursday, March 17, from 12 noon to 6 pm, in the Church of Christ Fellowship Hall. A photo ID is required of all donors, who must be at least 17 years old to donate. Donors who are 16 may still donate if they have a signed parental consent form. To save time, donors are invited to complete their questionnaire online (day of drive only) using Donor Express at www.thegiftoflife.org. To make your lifesaving appointment, please go to yourbloodinstitute.org or call 806.331.8833, (toll-free 1.877.574.8800). Look us up on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram and Twitter. BLOOD IS NEEDED EVERY DAY!