After 22 months, Meierding bids farewell to NR area churches

TOUGH TO SAY GOOD BYE — After 22 months, LeSueur River and Vista Lutheran interim pastor Paul Meierding delivered his final sermon there last Sunday. The Meierding family, from left, Paul, Erika, Karl and Jorun. (Submitted photo)

By RACHEL RIETSEMA

Staff Writer

For the last 22 months, the two-point perish of the LeSueur River Church and Vista Lutheran has experienced an interim phase.

All the while, they waited patiently for a full-time candidate to come along, and finally, their prayers have been answered. But, before Brian Gegel takes the lead, the congregation must say a bittersweet goodbye to Paul Meierding.

“As an interim pastor, people often tell you they want you to stay,” Meierding said. “It’s an honor to hear that. It’s also fun to hear people appreciating my ministry.”

Meierding can’t get over how great this interim time has been. Sundays won’t be the same, he says.

Officials expect northerns to rebound soon

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

Residents in the Geneva area had been enjoying some good fishing on Geneva Lake this summer.

The quality of the fish, in particularly northern pike, was amazing both in size and taste. Imagine their concern around the 4th of July to find a very large quantity of beautiful trophy northerns floating belly-up on the surface in the northern area of the lake.

They called the game warden, Tom Hutchins, to let him know about the situation. Authorities are aware of the problem but there is little that can be done about the hot weather, which is causing the fish-kill.

There didn't seem to be many rough or lesser pan fish affected, possibly because they may have gone down into the mud bottom where it was cooler, and survived.