Upcoming tax sale postponed

The April 28 tax sale has been postponed, according to a Unified Government announcement today.

The upcoming tax sale will be rescheduled when all systems are back online, a UG news release stated Monday.

The UG was hit by a cybersecurity attack over the Easter weekend, and out of an abundance of caution, is reviewing all data before moving forward with rescheduling the sale, according to the announcement.

In the news release, the UG stated that the combined tax sale also would include properties from tax sale 349, the October 2021 and January 2022 sales postponed by the UG Commission during a special session last year.

The tax sales are held to collect unpaid taxes. The UG usually holds three public auctions per year to sell property that is eligible for the tax sale, according to the UG’s news release.

Tax sale eligible properties are those that have delinquent taxes for at least three years for homestead properties, two years for commercial properties and one year for vacant and aandoned properties.

The UG’s Department of Delinquent Real Estate is expected to announce the rescheduled date in the coming days.

Property owners who have delinquent taxes are encouraged to contact the Unified Government at 913-573-2817 or by email at [email protected] as soon as possible to help prevent their property from going to a tax sale.

Oak Grove celebrates Earth Day 2022

Volunteers worked on an Earth Day cleanup on Friday, April 23, near Springfield and Quindaro in the northeast area of Kansas City, Kansas. The Oak Grove Neighborhood Group, Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group, Unified Government community policing, UG Public Works and UG Parks and Recreation volunteers participated. The area was the second location of the former Douglass Hospital. An overgrown lot will be cleared, and one day may become a park commemorating the former hospital. (Photo from Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group)

Volunteers worked on an Earth Day cleanup on Friday, April 23 at Springfield and Quindaro in the northeast area of Kansas City, Kansas. Nebraska Furniture Mart volunteers are included in this photo. The area was the second location of the former Douglass Hospital. An overgrown lot will be cleared, and one day may become a park commemorating the former hospital. (Photo from Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group)

by Elnora Tellis Jefferson

Embedded in the Unified Government’s Seven Days of Kindness, Earth Day 2022 was the perfect occasion to take the significant step to reclaim the site upon once stood the second home of the Douglass Hospital and Nurses Training Center (1924-1945).

Located at 336 Quindaro Blvd. (northwest corner of Springfield and Quindaro Boulevard), the hospital that was co-founded by Dr. Solomon H. Thompson, Attorney Isaac F. Bradley and Dr. Thomas C. Unthank and supported by a compelling and determined Black community spirit to overcome.

Here, the hospital increased the capacity of the Black doctors and nurse population to medically treat and save the lives of its non-white population. It also increased the medically trained prior to the hospital. The hospital’s first location was at 312 Washington Blvd. Prior to its establishment, Black doctors and nurses were denied access to hospitals and facilities that were the exclusive venue for KCK’s white population.

After 1945, the property fell under private ownership. Now a Land Bank property, the land is in the process of being reclaimed by the neighborhood association to cultivate it to serve as a lure to use nature, words and activities that commemorate the selfless spirit of a determined people to own their future.

Earth Day 2022 in the Oak Grove Neighborhood was a resounding success because of the following support: Unified Government: Building and Logistics, Abatement Team, Public Works, KCKPD Community Policing, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Groundwork NRG (the Northeast NBR).

Elnora Tellis Jefferson is a former president of the Historic Northeast-Midtown Association.

Sporting, Columbus play to draw in lightning-delayed match Saturday

Sporting Kansas City (2-6-1, 7 points) and the Columbus Crew (2-3-3, 9 points) snapped their three-match losing streaks by playing to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night at rain-drenched Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

In a tightly contested battle that was paused in the second half for 47 minutes due to inclement weather, Sporting posted its third shutout in four home games this year by limiting the Crew to a single shot on target. The result pushes Sporting’s record against Columbus to 7-1-3 in the last 11 regular season meetings since 2013.

Sporting received a personnel boost with the return of holding midfielder Uri Rosell, who had worked his way back from a lingering hamstring injury. The Spaniard accounted for one of two lineup changes from last Sunday’s 3-1 road loss to LAFC, with winger Marinos Tzionis dropping to the bench and center back Kortne Ford replacing Andreu Fontas for his first start at Children’s Mercy Park in a Sporting uniform.

Elsewhere, a host of Sporting veterans hit notable milestones on Saturday, chief among them Scottish captain Johnny Russell who logged his 500th professional appearance for club and country. Midfielder Roger Espinoza passed Matt Besler for second in club history with his 295th regular season appearance, while right back Graham Zusi tied Besler atop Kansas City’s all-time charts with his 285th regular season start.

The hosts suffered a twist of misfortune inside the first three minutes as center back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin suffered a head injury in a midfield collision with Columbus winger James Igbekeme. The end result was Sporting’s first ever concussion substitution, summoning 20-year-old German defender Robert Voloder for his Children’s Mercy Park debut.

Not long after Isimat-Mirin’s exit, Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia—who jumped to seventh on the club’s all-time charts with his 204th regular season start — sprawled right and corraled a thumping effort by Crew striker Miguel Berry. Columbus threatened once more at the 15-minute mark when Berry was played through on goal, but Ford’s impeccably timed slide tackle inside the penalty area extinguished the danger.

The next several minutes unfolded in pedestrian fashion, but a flashbulb moment occurred near halftime. As the skies began to open with torrential rainfall, Remi Walter ran onto a delightful Voloder long ball and hit the turf under a clumsy challenge from Columbus left back Pedro Santos inside the box. Despite the move, referee Fotis Bazakos shocked fans in attendance by waving away Sporting’s penalty kick protestations.

Sporting’s first shot attempt very nearly resulted in a goal. Zusi’s teasing free kick from the right channel found center forward Khiry Shelton, whose impressive diving header was smothered by outstretched Columbus goalkeeper Eloy Room.

Tzionis entered as a second-half substitute and made a palpable impact in the 63rd minute, driving down the left side and pulling the ball back to Daniel Salloi, whose sizzling near-post strike was saved by Room’s outstretched foot.

Ford continued to excel in central defense and saved Sporting’s blushes once more with 15 minutes left, sliding to clear a low cross intended for Berry in the six-yard area just seconds before the game was halted due to lightning in the area.

Play restarted following the delay and Room was called into action on 83 minutes, diving left at full extension to palm the ball aside after Russell’s cross from the right flank was deflected goalward.

Sporting will return to Children’s Mercy Park next Saturday, April 30, playing host to FC Dallas (4-1-3, 15 points) in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on 38 The Spot, the Sporting KC app and SportingKC.com. Tickets for the match are available at SeatGeek.com.

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