Stine Farm sale is delayed 6th time
- Original The Morning Call article: Stine Farm sale is delayed 6th time
For the sixth time, the foreclosure sale of the Stine Farm in Lower Mount Bethel Township by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been postponed.
The 147-acre farm at 10143 Gravel Hill Road was scheduled for auction at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Northampton County Court by the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania .
But the government's attorney, Michael McKeever in Philadelphia , said the sale was canceled this time because Clayton Stine Jr., the owner, filed for bankruptcy Monday.
McKeever said he was prepared to go to the sale before learning of the bankruptcy claim. He said he filed a motion immediately, asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Reading to permit the sale to go on, but it denied the motion.
The court, McKeever said, has deferred a ruling on the bankruptcy issue until April 1, and the next sale date is April 2.
A prior date for the farm sale was Jan. 17, but that also was canceled because Stine made a payment of $100,000 on the $434,672 loan he received about 18 years ago from the Department of Agriculture.
The court gave Stine until Monday to come up with the balance, and if he didn't, the auction would go on Tuesday.
McKeever said Stine owes more than $300,000, plus costs and interest, on the loan.
Stine could not be reached for comment.
Stine and his son Michael have been cited numerous times by the state Department of Environmental Protection and ordered to clean up the thousands of stumps and brush they have brought on the land over the past 10 years. Three stump fires have been reported during that time.
Ron Angle, the Northampton County councilman who owns 200 acres next to the Stine property, was disappointed in the sale delay, saying the Stines ''escape at every turn.''
He has battled the Stines for years. He recently succeeded in getting the county court to prevent the Stines from hauling stumps and debris over his property, which they must do to get to their land.
madeleine.mathias@mcall.com 610-559-2144
Copyright © 2008 The Morning Call, All Rights Reserved.
Please note by clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. Send us your feedback.
Foreclosures Forum