In comparison, the commissioner sale is published in the newspaper and is up for counter offers and I believe it comes with any liens owed.

If those don't pull, then you can try the local newspaper or throw up some bandit signs.

I contacted everyone I could--even newspaper outlets--to explain my situation, that a couple are squatting in my parents' house.

The lien sale is posted in the news paper and usually just a couple times a year.

Other methods are driving for dollars, door knocking, wholesalers, wholesaler deals that fell through, craigslist, Realtors, FSBO sites, expired listings, put out bandit signs, billboards, newspapers, other offline publications, home health care, hospice, assisted living facilitiesYou can use pay per click/adwords, motivated seller website with SEO, facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, and other forms of online and social media marketing.

You'd want an extra thick sand layer to prevent telegraphing--like 2 inches?

@Nick BrimmerqIn my experience, older properties are more likely to have landlord paid utilities. 50-100 years ago; utilities were much less expensive and if you were to open the walls of a 100+ year old home; you are likely to find newspaper as insulation. 

I saw one of my tenants name in the police report section of the newspaper. 

Have seen newspaper, wrapping paper, cardboard, black plastic garbage bags, towels etc. 

I haven't used the newspaper in like ten years.