Bills pile up for 'Lumberjack Days' organizers

The Lumberjack Days Festival Organization has failed to pay $20,000 to the city of Stillwater, the Pioneer Press is reporting. This comes just weeks after the city decided to suspend the festival's contract to run the annual riverside celebration. Festival organizers have been accused of writing thousands of dollars of worthless checks by a variety of organizations.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Jan 3, 2012

The Lumberjack Days Festival Organization has failed to pay $20,000 to the city of Stillwater, the Pioneer Press is reporting. This comes just weeks after the city decided to suspend the festival's contract to run the annual riverside celebration. Festival organizers have been accused of writing thousands of dollars of worthless checks by a variety of organizations. The Washington County Attorney is reviewing the case for possible felony charges.

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According to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy court, Dave Eckberg and his wife, Stacy Einck, owe a list of more than 100 creditors nearly $2.4 million. Eckberg had coordinated the summer festival along the St. Croix River in Stillwater since 1994 and could also face criminal charges.

The future of the city's two biggest summer festivals is in question after the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to suspend the events. Investigators are looking into a batch of bad checks allegedly penned by festival organizers.

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput told the Pioneer Press his office is still reviewing evidence in the case involving former Stillwater Lumberjack Days organizer Dave Eckberg. The newspaper writes it could take another month before a charging decision is made. Last month, Eckberg and his wife filed for personal bankruptcy. Court documents show the couple owes a list of more than 100 creditors nearly $2.4 million.

The Lumberjack Days Festival organizer wrote tens of thousands of dollars in bad checks to vendors and a high school hockey booster organization. He blames bad weather for the lack of funds to cover the debts. Police are investigating.

After months of investigation, David Eckberg, 61, was charged with 10 felony counts -- five of theft by check and five of issuance of a dishonored check -- in Washington County District Court on Thursday, the Star Tribune reports. Eckberg, the former organizer of Stillwater's now defunct Lumberjack Days festival, is accused taking $41,000 from the festival and writing nearly $55,000 in bad checks.

The Star Tribune reports city leaders voted Tuesday night to ax the popular summer festival, which has drawn serious criticism recently over unpaid bills and rowdy drunken crowds.

City Administrator Larry Hansen was the first to propose ending the summer festival because of the financial and legal problems now associated with it. Hansen told the Star Tribune he would be surprised if the City Council didn't cancel the contract. Members are expected to discuss it Tuesday.

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