Peter Achermann The family is still in pain over a missing father and husband, but after more than three fruitless weeks, the organized search effort for Peter Achermann has been called off.

"We folded up the camp last Sunday," Desiree Greenwaldt, one of Peter's daughters, said of the Becker Township site that had served as unofficial search headquarters. It was about seven miles north and east of Staples, on the minimum maintenance township road where Peter's car was found Saturday, July 25.

Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said that on August 12 he announced that they were no longer asking volunteers to show up at the search site.

"Our search for Peter Achermann is continuing," Sheriff Fisher said this week. "But we are very confident we have searched that area very thoroughly and we have not found anything."

"Right now we are continuing to search, to follow up on leads. We have searched other areas which have come to our attention," he added, but also with no results.

Fisher said they are continuing the case as a missing person investigation. "We know it is a very difficult situation for the family, for friends and for us as well." However, after what he termed "one of the most intensive searches I've ever been involved with," the decision was made that further organized searching wasn't likely to find any more than previous efforts.

Fisher said the sheriff's department is continuing to reconstruct Achermann's last movements. He made several stops on his trip to Motley and Staples on Friday, July 24. Several people have reported talking to him. He was last seen at Ernie's Grocery store early that afternoon.

Desiree Greenwaldt said the family members have continued last week looking for Peter, but they too have exhausted ideas of where to look. "We just don't know where else to look. We're hoping, asking for leads, tips of any kind," she said.

Among other places, family members last week floated the Crow Wing River from near Staples to close to Motley. Again, they found nothing.

Not knowing where he is or what happened to him continues to haunt everyone.

"Maybe somebody saw something that day. If so, please come forward," she said. "It may be what we need to find Dad."

She added that every day that ends without

them knowing the answers is more painful. "We went to church on Sunday. He's supposed

to be with us," she said, fighting to hold back tears. "For the last 18 years, they've come over for coffee and breakfast after church."

Desiree said her mother has remained strong despite the tremendous strain. "No woman should have to be that strong."

Several of Peter's sons and daughters, who had been involved in the search, have had to return to work, to their normal lives.

Now they are asking that anyone with information of any kind to report it to the Cass County Sheriff's Office at 1-218-547-1424 or 800- 450-2677.