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County sells woman's farm over $572 tax bill
Patriot News ^ | 11/7/03 | Diana Stricker

Posted on 11/07/2003 5:39:57 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

An 89-year-old woman could be evicted from her home of more than 50 years for missing one tax payment of $572 on her South Hanover Twp. property.

Helene Shue's red farmhouse and 41 acres of land along Route 39 -- about two miles from Hersheypark -- were appraised at $800,000, said her nephew, Jeff Arndt. The property was sold in September at a sheriff's sale for $15,000.

Arndt said he and his aunt were not aware that the county was seeking to recoup a portion of the 2001 taxes until an anonymous caller tipped him off Monday night.

"He told us the property had already been sold," Arndt said. "The Lord laid it on his heart to tell me about it."

Arndt has hired an attorney, and filed a legal challenge of the sale yesterday. The petition states that the taxes were paid in full every other year, including this year.

Dauphin County's tax bureau made repeated attempts to collect the 2001 payment before selling the property, said Jennifer Kocher, a county spokeswoman. Several notices were sent seeking payment, and two notices were posted on the front door of her house, Kocher said.

"There's a very strict procedure we must follow that includes 12 notifications," Kocher said. "We followed the letter of the law to a T."

The $572 owed in back taxes represents part of what is owed for 2001, Kocher said. County records confirm that Shue paid all her subsequent tax bills in full, she said.

Arndt said Shue did attempt to pay the $572 in question. But he said the check was returned with a form letter from the tax bureau explaining that the payment should be made by certified check or money order.

When asked about Arndt's claims that his aunt's check was returned, Kocher said, "He's welcome to present all these things in court."

Property owners can contest a sheriff's sale in Dauphin County Court, Kocher said. A hearing is usually scheduled a few weeks after an objection is filed.

Arndt said the property was deeded to his aunt and his uncle, Clayton, in 1948, but the county records only list the deed in his uncle's name. He said the tax bureau sent delinquent-tax notification letters addressed to his uncle, who died four years ago.

Kocher said the county began the notification process in March 2002, when three certified letters were sent to Clayton Shue. Other letters were sent this year, advising of the pending sale.

Kocher said all certified letters were returned to the bureau unopened. Letters were sent by regular mail, which were not returned, she said.

"We don't investigate who the owners of those properties are," Kocher said. "We had no way of knowing whether there was a problem on their end or whether they were ignoring it."

Written notices were twice posted on the front of the house, in September 2002 and in September 2003, Kocher said. One official posts the notices, and another is required to accompany him as a witness.

The impending sale was listed in The Patriot-News in a legal advertisement in September.

The entire Shue parcel was sold to Philip Dobson of Middle Paxton Twp., a developer, on Sept. 25, Kocher said.

Dobson said he has not been notified that the sale is being contested. "I'm just a purchaser at a public auction, and I paid my money and that's all I can say," he said.

The property is near land being developed for residential housing.

Arndt said that since his uncle died, his aunt has become reclusive and wary of strangers. Helene Shue declined to discuss the situation.

But her nephew said her only wish is to live her remaining days in the home she shared with her husband.

"Her farm means everything to her," Arndt said. "It's life and death to her. She won't move off of it. She's been offered one million bucks for it and she refused."

Arndt, who is heir to his aunt's property, said the sale was "morally and legally" flawed and that an elderly woman should not be expected to understand the legal process. He said he has tried to explain to her what has transpired. "She understands that something terrible is about to happen and that I'm going to do something about it," he said.

Arndt said he worries that other older homeowners could lose their homes in a similar fashion. "We need to make this known to the public and we need to get the legislators in on this," he said. "There are other people who have to be protected."



TOPICS: Extended News; Government; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: landgrab; propertyrights; taxws; tyranny; widow; widowindistress
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1 posted on 11/07/2003 5:39:57 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
I wonder if the "buyer" is a regular contributor to the sheriff's campaign or his brother-in-law ...
2 posted on 11/07/2003 5:43:20 PM PST by Bobby777
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
This garbage is going on all over the country. I hope that everyone with an elderly relative demands that any and all legal issues be discussed with an appointed counselor.
3 posted on 11/07/2003 5:44:07 PM PST by OldFriend (DEMS INHABIT A PARALLEL UNIVERSE)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The property is near land being developed for residential housing.

That's the reason right there why she was kicked out.
4 posted on 11/07/2003 5:44:32 PM PST by lelio
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
This goes on all the time accross the US, although rarely as sleazily as this. There is a lot of inside information that passes between crooked bureaucrats and lawyers in the local courthouses.
5 posted on 11/07/2003 5:45:01 PM PST by friendly (Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
What country did this take place in. Was it the sheriff of Notingham? Where is Robin Hood when you need him!!
6 posted on 11/07/2003 5:45:38 PM PST by mc5cents
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Is this Pennsylvania? The county names are common to many states, I think.
7 posted on 11/07/2003 5:46:54 PM PST by Eva
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Disgusting
9 posted on 11/07/2003 5:48:47 PM PST by gd124
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To: Eva
The lush beautiful countryside near Hersey, Pennsylvania.
10 posted on 11/07/2003 5:49:57 PM PST by friendly (Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection; Eva
Dobson said he has not been notified that the sale is being contested. "I'm just a purchaser at a public auction, and I paid my money and that's all I can say," he said.

Yeah right. You're getting land valued at $800k for $15k and you don't think there's something up?

Eva: a search on news.google.com for Daulphin County brings up this story from "Penn Live" so I'm guessing it is PA.
11 posted on 11/07/2003 5:50:14 PM PST by lelio
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To: OldFriend
This garbage is going on all over the country.

Yes it is. But what to do? Perhaps the community should take more of an interest in the old folks. Perhaps relatives should, too. When old people are tossed out, a lot of times they don't survive: that's the end right there. Many of us may be in the same situation some day, so think about it. Don't expect the government to treat anybody as special, but volunteers can and do. We should take care of each other a little better.

12 posted on 11/07/2003 5:52:11 PM PST by RightWhale (Close your tag lines)
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To: Bobby777
Some heads need to roll on this. There is no way a property of that value could be picked up at auction, at that price, without collusion. I hope they find and fry the bastards who are responsible.
13 posted on 11/07/2003 5:52:35 PM PST by billhilly (If you're lurking here from DU, I trust this post will make you sick)
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To: friendly
That's what I thought, Arndt is a familiar name from that area.
14 posted on 11/07/2003 5:53:10 PM PST by Eva
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To: billhilly
I agree ... it's racketeering ... at a minimum ...
15 posted on 11/07/2003 5:54:04 PM PST by Bobby777
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Hey at least they didn't send in the ATF and FBI overthe tax bill.
16 posted on 11/07/2003 5:55:47 PM PST by dts32041 (Is it time to practice decimation with our representatives?)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection


I'm sure this guy would be happy to have worked in this township.
17 posted on 11/07/2003 5:55:49 PM PST by Beck_isright (Socialists are like cockroaches. No matter how many die, 300 more are born under every cowpile.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Sean Hannity's talking about it right now.
18 posted on 11/07/2003 5:59:13 PM PST by Aliska
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To: dts32041
Hey at least they didn't send in the ATF and FBI overthe tax bill.

That would of required more of a bribe from the purchaser to get the "Burning Down the House Reclaim Special" ala Waco.

The eldery woman sounds like a recluse. How did she find out about it? Did someone show up on the property with a backhoe ready to dig out some expensive home lots?
19 posted on 11/07/2003 5:59:38 PM PST by lelio
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
I'm not sure about in that state but I am under the assumption that
1- The property is auctioned with a quitclaim deed.
2- The asking price will be 100% of the tax bill plus interest as a minimum.
3- Any "premium" beyond the tax lien is a gamble for the buyer as the debtor has a set time frame to redeem or pay the lien off after the tax sale. Here I think it is three years.

If this true for them that developer should be out his $14+K premium. I would think its easily investigated.
20 posted on 11/07/2003 5:59:49 PM PST by Dust in the Wind
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