Woodbury Company Part Of Investigation Of Lumberjack Days Planner

Stillwater police have launched a felony investigation of the organizer of for unpaid bills, including one for a Woodbury company.

In recent months, police received complaints from three businesses, and the Stillwater area hockey booster club, claiming they weren’t paid by Dave Eckberg of St. Croix Events following this year’s festival.

“This is an active investigation,” Stillwater Police Chief John Gannaway said Tuesday night. Police will not comment on the case until a charging decision has been made by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

According to complaints filed with the Stillwater Police Department on Oct. 18, Woodbury-based was issued a check for beer and liquor purchased by St. Croix Events, Lumberjack Days planners, but there was no money in the accounts to cover it. The same thing happened to Needham Distributing Company, based out of Grant, according to the complaints.

Icabod Productions of North Mankato has also filed a theft by worthless check complaint with the Stillwater Police Department.

According to a KSTP report, Eckberg owes the Stillwater Blue Line Boosters $10,000 after a group of hockey players helped set up the festival grounds last summer in the midst of a heat wave.

That complaint was filed with Stillwater police on Nov. 29.

"I'm frustrated more than anything," Stillwater Area High School hockey coach, Phil Housley told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. "I'm very, very frustrated."

The money was to go for hockey equipment and travel expenses, Housley told KSTP.

Eckberg reportedly told KSTP that he signed the checks to four organizations—including the hockey booster club—even though there were not funds in the account to immediately cover the amounts. Eckberg reportedly said the organizations and companies agreed not to cash the checks until he told them the money was available.

"This kind of thing happens on festivals," Eckberg told KSTP. "We're not happy about it but we're working to get everybody paid."

St. Croix Events also produces Drum Beauty Minnesota, the , the and the Osceola Duathlon.