Fanning out Members of the Brainerd National Guard HHC Company fanned out Saturday afternoon in a wooded area owned by Joe Hasselberg near where Peter Achermann's car was found. The Guards walked through several of the harder areas to search as directed by the Cass County Sheriff's Office, but results were similar to earlier efforts by family, friends and volunteers. One of the soldiers, who lives on 80 acres in the McGregor area, said he's used to woods like this. "We go out and play in the swamp all the time," he said. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford) The search for the missing Peter Achermann of Leader has stretched into its third week, with still no trace of the missing 82-year-old man.

Close to 100 members of a Brainerd National Guard unit joined the search last weekend, covering much of the same ground tramped by volunteers in the first two weeks of the search. The Guard troops did so in a very systematic and coordinated search effort.

The result, however, was the same. The troops left the search Sunday evening having found no trace of the missing man.

Peter Achermann Cass County Chief Deputy Tom Birch said Tuesday morning that the search effort continues, although most deputies were taking a break that day. Sheriff Randy Fisher a week earlier, when asked how long they will continue looking, replied "Until we find him."

Peter Achermann was last seen Friday, July 24, when he ran several errands in Motley and Staples. His vehicle was found a day later in Becker Township, north and east of Staples.

The Cass County Sheriff's Department, Achermann's family, friends and the area community have conducted an aggressive search effort ever since.

Achermann is a white male, approximately 5-foot- 9, 175 pounds, with a gray beard. He generally walks with a cane. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's department at 800-450-2677 or 218-547-1424.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty ordered the National Guard to join the search on Friday, Aug. 7. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 1-194 Armored Battalion, based in Brainerd, had 94 troops at the search site early Saturday morning.

Sgt. Major Stephen Cunnien said the unit's members were scheduled for their normal weekend drill but had their orders changed at 6 p.m. Friday to respond to the Cass County sheriff's call for assistance.

Planning search Using an aerial map, Captain Joseph Sanganoo, center, talked over details of the next search effort for his National Guard unit with two of his men. Sanganoo led 94 members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 1-194 Armored Battallion, which is based in Brainerd, during the search last Saturday and Sunday for Peter Achermann. Despite the work of the Guard members, there was still no trace of the missing man. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford) The Guard troops were assigned a detailed search of three target areas near where Achermann's car was found.

"The troops are virtually holding hands in the search effort. It is a very physically demanding operation in this terrain," Cunnien said. "But every one of them would rather be here than anywhere else right now," he added about mid-afternoon on Saturday, as the Guards took a short lunch break. Many of the troops were wet up to their waists after combing a swampy area.

Heavy woods A National Guardsman trudged through heavy woods during part of the search Saturday for Peter Achermann. The National Guard unit had radios, compasses and their own maps to guide them in the search effort, which was coordinated by the Cass County Sheriff's Department. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford) Commanding officer of the HHC 1-194 is Captain Joseph Sanganoo. "We've

not located anything so far,"

he said Saturday afternoon. "We're here to support

the Cass County Sheriff's Office. We give them more personnel. We're not necessarily better than the local volunteers, but perhaps better prepared in some physically demanding situations."

"We hope we can help the family find their loved one, that's our goal," Captain Sanganoo said.

Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said the National Guard unit researched areas and did an excellent job in some hard to search areas.

"We gave them the hardest of the hard areas. I don't mean to take anything away from the volunteers, the family and friends, but the Guards were in better physical condition and with better equipment. I know the family really appreciates having them here," Fisher said.

Two of Peter's sons, Franz and Jorg, worked Saturday with the Guards, who were divided into two groups, one of 50 and another of 44 troops.

A National Guard helicopter was used Sunday for a combined ground search and low level aerial search. The DNR also brought in a Marsh Master bog machine to get into some of the wetter areas.

Also on Monday, another dog team was brought in and covered both the original search area and an expanded area. This is at least the 25th dog team used.

The Guard presence also caused more media exposure, with television satellite trucks parked Saturday in or around Joe Hasselberg's yard. Along with a Salvation Army lunch wagon, Joe and Barb Hasselberg's Becker Township residence took on the look of a large family reunion with many vehicles parked along the road leading up to their place. Achermann's station wagon was found about a half mile north, on a minimum maintenance road.

The sheriff's office has coordinated search efforts of family, friends and volunteers. Sheriff' Fisher said they had adequate searchers for the first two weeks, but that many of the people had to leave, returning to jobs or for other reasons.

"We had discussed calling for the Guard before, so when the Governor's office called us on Friday, I made the request for the Guard to assist," Fisher said. "The Guard being here has given the whole effort a new life."

The search headquarters remains just north of Cass County 32, with a sign at the curve. Searchers need to wear heavy clothes and shoes and be prepared for difficult walking.

Family members said early this week that volunteers are still needed and can come to the search area beginning at 9 a.m. any day, No one will be turned away.

In addition to family members, numerous area residents have been showing up day after day. The family is very appreciative of the support they have received the past many days.