Dec. 8, 2008 the deeded and only access to the Shurtleff camp was taken from us through the Superior and Supreme court system and given to Roger Lambert. Yes, we were very vocal about our loss, and as a U.S. citizen and taxpaying property owner in Strong, I did in my opinion have the right to protest that decision. I lost a brother (veteran), husband (veteran) and a son (fireman and first responder) who were not allowed access to their properties from 2008 until their passing. Is ingress/egress a constitutional right to all? We planned to build a road (through property purchased by Wendall Voter by bid process from the Town of Strong, in 1979 with a right of way off Hunter Road), but now is blocked by Robbie Elliott with the okay of the Town Selectmen and is pending a court decision. Wendall is left with no access to that woodlot. How can he harvest wood to defray court costs? In my opinion this man has been through enough, and has done nothing wrong except try to help his family.
Eunice Shurtleff
Strong
Nov. 29 Letter to the editor: Road issue, not a land dispute
Wendall Voter purchased a lot on the old county road aka Dickey Road from Bob Thorndike in 2009 with a right-of-way, and this was done legally, so everyone involved believed, through an attorney and included a memorandum of lease for family members from all sides of our family.
Wendall asked the Shurtleff boys if they would like to build a little camp there as we had no access to our other property and camp. With the help of a paralegal, Wendall and Eunice entered into a lifetime lease agreement. After a four and a half year period the Lamberts decided we could no longer use the road and sued him for contempt, stating there were four or five other ways to the property.
There is limited access through a four-wheeler and snowmobile trail, but no right-of-way. Ira Voter, who by the way was a Maine State Guide, purchased lot 12 from Charles Dickey in 1935, which is now owned by Vernon Voter, and taxes have been paid on the property to the Town of Strong since that date, which is many more years than the Lamberts have paid taxes, having purchased their property in 1971. In 2003 Roger Lambert suddenly decided that our prescriptive grandfathered rights of ways that ran through his property could no longer be used by our family.
We sued, lost the case and paid all court and attorney fees. Now it is happening again. Can’t win against this man. He is accusing us of land-grabbing and all we want is a road to our land with the same rights as other taxpayers. We planned to build a road from the right-of-way on the Hunter Road to our other camp and that has been blocked and is pending court action.
It is a violation of Maine State law to block a right of way and in my opinion no person should have to enter into a costly court case to keep what is his.
Eunice Shurtleff
Strong
The author presents a very emotion driven appeal. However, the courts are entirely fact driven. Could this be exacerbating the gap between the desired outcome and actual reality? How much money and energy need to be poured into a losing battle? Now Mr. Elliott is the next villain / opponent? Inner peace will come only through acceptance and forgiveness, not through legal victory. Pursue that peace.
You do not know what you are talking about Franklin, read the letter again…or go to the court records and find out what we have been through. There is a conspiracy, and I ask again, how can court costs be defrayed if you cannot get to your woodlot to harvest wood?
Eunice, are you suggesting that Judge’s Murphy and Stokes, the referee and the Maine State Supreme Court are all involved in a conspiracy? Are you suggesting that the Court system gave a deeded right of way you never had to Roger Lambert who owns the actual property– how does that happen?
You say that Wendall Voter’s property was purchased in 1979 with a right of way off the Hunter road. Then you say that Robbie Elliot is blocking that? Take a drive up Norton Hill, left on to Hunter Road….. I’m sorry, but there is nothing blocking access off the Hunter Road….
I read the letter, and I am very familiar with details which have not been reported in the media regarding your case. My condolences on the loss of your loved ones. One way to defray court costs would be to accept a judge’s ruling as opposed to constantly appealing it or being found in contempt of it. Again, acceptance and forgiveness. Peace.
More than once you have stated that the Hunter Road is blocked. Have you even driven up Norton Hill and on to the Hunter Road? The Hunter Road is not blocked.
I agree with your opinion as stated in the updated letter that “no person should have to enter into a costly court case to keep what is his.” It’s very unfortunate that Roger Lambert was put into the position of having to do exactly that.
I know the Hon. Murphy, not personally but through her profession, her on the bench and me in front of it. She is firm but fair. Landowner protection laws are straight forward with zero wiggle room. There was a time when “farmers laws” applied to land use for certain needs. But now days paperwork is needed because the original landowners are gone. The Voters didn’t prove their case. They could not show where they had been given permission to use the road. When a landowner tells you to stay off his land, that is ironclad. You have only one option, stay off the land. Use the Hunter road and move on.
Whoever wrote that the Hunter Road is not blocked knows darn well the road continued on to Church Hill, and
When Wendall bought the woodlot, it bordered the Hunter Road, which is now Birch. Stop using ruses, and stick to the truth. Yes there is a conspiracy, and it continues today. I did not mention any names. You know who you are.
So just to confirm– Judges Murphy, Stokes, the referee and the Maine State Supreme Court are all involved in a conspiracy?