Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[BrokenTrack]

Yes, the cold weather held long enough for him to take care of his regular customers. It took me all winter to cut that, because of the deep snow; and it was just a load. (42100 lbs.)

Sadly I had to call the Maine Forest Service on Monday. The guys who cut my woodlot this winter has had nothing but an excuse after excuse for not paying me, and finally went over the legal time frame he had to pay, so now it is up to the Maine Forest Service and Attorney General's Office. I hated to do it, but it was a lot of wood and I just cannot eat 1400 cord of wood. Property taxes are not cheap and that tax bill comes every year!

I did a lot of calling this week and it seems they were zone-jumping too which is a big no-no. About the only thing legitimate on the paper work was that it was my woodlot and had my harvest permit number on it! It just shows that the logger, trucking company and wood broker are working together to swindle landowners and paper mills alike.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

 

[Jstpssng]

Sadly I had to call the Maine Forest Service on Monday. The guys who cut my woodlot this winter has had nothing but an excuse after excuse for not paying me, and finally went over the legal time frame he had to pay, so now it is up to the Maine Forest Service and Attorney General's Office. I hated to do it, but it was a lot of wood and I just cannot eat 1400 cord of wood. Property taxes are not cheap and that tax bill comes every year!

I did a lot of calling this week and it seems they were zone-jumping too which is a big no-no. About the only thing legitimate on the paper work was that it was my woodlot and had my harvest permit number on it! It just shows that the logger, trucking company and wood broker are working together to swindle landowners and paper mills alike.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Ouch! That stinks. Most of those guys have been put out of business over the years, hopefully your money hasn't disappeared down someone's rabbit hole.

 

[Piston]

Thank, it is definitely one of my wife's finer assets.

I am just surprised you saw the boiler. I have not just been scoffed at because of my 18 inch bar, but rather been told as well that I am a lair, and that there was no boiler in that photo, or at least, they could not seem to see the boiler.

(At 38 with 4 daughters, the poor thing works hard to stay in shape...her husband...not so much).

I can't help but wonder how many photos of their mother are floating around the internet....

 

[motownbrowne]

I can't help but wonder how many photos of their mother are floating around the internet....

In my opinion, not enough. But it's a darned good start!

 

[BrokenTrack]

Ouch! That stinks. Most of those guys have been put out of business over the years, hopefully your money hasn't disappeared down someone's rabbit hole.

I asked the Forest Service (of which I am not very fond of myself), and they said the chances of getting my money back are 100%. At this point it is out and out theft because he has only given me $1100 two weeks after starting the job, and none for the wood after that.

I say "for the wood", because he gave me money after that, but his feller-buncher had broke down when he got here and I floated him $2000 to get it fixed. So I got that money back, but only $1100 for 1384 cord of wood. Some of it was chip wood granted, but a lot was Spruce, Hemlock, Pine, Cedar and Hardwood Logs, so it is around $15,000 he owes me. Not a huge amount granted, but a years worth of taxes; is a years worth of taxes; is the way I look at it. Or, put into TractorBynet terms, nearly a new Kubota Tractor!

I understand what it is like to be behind on bills, and logging sucks because it means breakdowns and hard work in the freezing cold, but when you get behind there has to be a plan to get back on track. There was never a plan, just "I'll pay you next week." Weeks have gone by, no show when he said he would, then finally I gave him an ultimatum. Same thing, no plan just "I'll square up with you next week". He was well beyond the legal 45 days to pay, and still no plan, so I got concerned. His skidder is sitting out the house waiting to be taken back by the finance company, so I knew my chances of being "squared up next week were slim", so if anyone wants a 525 Cat grapple Skidder just let me know, I'll sell it cheap...about $15,000!!

Now it is up to the Maine Forest Service and Attorney General's Office. He'll have to pay a fine and restitution, but sadly they said it will take a year to go through the courts, then whatever they agree to for restitution payments. The Maine Forest Service said I did not have to get a Lawyer, but I got one on retainer nonetheless.

I was hoping to get my wood lot picked up so that if something happens to me, my wife would not have to deal with this stuff for a bit, but that did not happen. It sucks for me because I am so sick and tired (from thyroid, liver and prostate cancer), and really did not want to deal with this. I would have preferred to cut the wood myself, but am just too sick right now to do it.

 

[Molalla1]

Thanks for your kind words, though there is kind of a backstory to Katie and that boiler photo.

The guys on another forum had helped me hook it up, and so knowing Katie, is cute asked me to "get a photo of my boiler and Katie just to see which one was better looking." I told this to Katie, and even to my surprise she put on her Little Red Dress and posed for photos knowing full well they were going to be posted online. I post them here because I know she does not mind, and because it gives someone something to see besides tractors.

:thumbsup:...keep it up!

 

[PhysAssist]

Thanks for your kind words, though there is kind of a backstory to Katie and that boiler photo.

The guys on another forum had helped me hook it up, and so knowing Katie, is cute asked me to "get a photo of my boiler and Katie just to see which one was better looking." I told this to Katie, and even to my surprise she put on her Little Red Dress and posed for photos knowing full well they were going to be posted online. I post them here because I know she does not mind, and because it gives someone something to see besides tractors.

...And we do appreciate it!

 

[Jstpssng]

I asked the Forest Service (of which I am not very fond of myself), and they said the chances of getting my money back are 100%. At this point it is out and out theft because he has only given me $1100 two weeks after starting the job, and none for the wood after that.

I say "for the wood", because he gave me money after that, but his feller-buncher had broke down when he got here and I floated him $2000 to get it fixed. So I got that money back, but only $1100 for 1384 cord of wood. Some of it was chip wood granted, but a lot was Spruce, Hemlock, Pine, Cedar and Hardwood Logs, so it is around $15,000 he owes me. Not a huge amount granted, but a years worth of taxes; is a years worth of taxes; is the way I look at it. Or, put into TractorBynet terms, nearly a new Kubota Tractor!

I understand what it is like to be behind on bills, and logging sucks because it means breakdowns and hard work in the freezing cold, but when you get behind there has to be a plan to get back on track. There was never a plan, just "I'll pay you next week." Weeks have gone by, no show when he said he would, then finally I gave him an ultimatum. Same thing, no plan just "I'll square up with you next week". He was well beyond the legal 45 days to pay, and still no plan, so I got concerned. His skidder is sitting out the house waiting to be taken back by the finance company, so I knew my chances of being "squared up next week were slim", so if anyone wants a 525 Cat grapple Skidder just let me know, I'll sell it cheap...about $15,000!!

Now it is up to the Maine Forest Service and Attorney General's Office. He'll have to pay a fine and restitution, but sadly they said it will take a year to go through the courts, then whatever they agree to for restitution payments. The Maine Forest Service said I did not have to get a Lawyer, but I got one on retainer nonetheless.

I was hoping to get my wood lot picked up so that if something happens to me, my wife would not have to deal with this stuff for a bit, but that did not happen. It sucks for me because I am so sick and tired (from thyroid, liver and prostate cancer), and really did not want to deal with this. I would have preferred to cut the wood myself, but am just too sick right now to do it.

Again, I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. You seem to have enough to worry about without this. (For most of us, just having 4 daughters would be enough. )
It was a good idea to find a lawyer to look out for your interests first; despite what the MFS says, it's going to be tough to collect money which they don't have.

A lot of loggers are still reeling from the mill closures a few years ago; yet that shouldn't be your problem.

If there is anything I can do to help let me know. I have relatives just up the road from you in Frankfort and Winterport. I'll bet that if you wanted help getting firewood in there are a few TBN members close enough to give a hand.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have about 275 feet of nice pine logs that didn't get hauled so they will be around for a few more weeks. Tonight I went up and buried them with about 6 feet of snow to keep them from spoiling.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Again, I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. You seem to have enough to worry about without this. (For most of us, just having 4 daughters would be enough. )
It was a good idea to find a lawyer to look out for your interests first; despite what the MFS says, it's going to be tough to collect money which they don't have.

A lot of loggers are still reeling from the mill closures a few years ago; yet that shouldn't be your problem.

If there is anything I can do to help let me know. I have relatives just up the road from you in Frankfort and Winterport. I'll bet that if you wanted help getting firewood in there are a few TBN members close enough to give a hand.

Oh my, you don't know the fourth of it...they are ages 4, 11,12 and 13. That just means down the road, 7, 14,15 and 16! Someone once lamented that I probably wanted boys and I was like, "oh...the boys will come, trust me!"

Thanks for the kindness as I do appreciate the offer. Frankfort and Winterport is not that far away actually, but I'll be alright. I was just trying to explain the situation and came across as whinning. It may be, but I still think it is a low person that steals, much less one from someone having cancer and trying to pay his property taxes.

It is tough with the paper mills closing, and I understand the lower prices hurting, BUT my wood was hauled and he was paid for it. You know how it works; haul it by Friday at noon and get paid that very Friday night. When he was down at the local bar living it up, then the next day saying how broke he was, I had enough. I understand not working everyday, but excuses are excuses after awhile. 45 days? That is a long time when your wood has ben felled, hauled off, made into paper and boards and you have nothing but stumps to show for it.