The Britt Police Department is asking snowmobilers in Iowa and Minnesota to be on the lookout for a missing Britt man.

Authorities are searching for Jon. D. Weiland, 43, of Britt, who has been missing since Saturday, Dec. 19.

He was last seen around 10 p.m. in Walters, a small Faribault County town about 15 miles east of Albert Lea.

According to a press release, Britt Police Chief Dan Nelson is requesting the public’s help in searching for Weiland, who has been missing for more than a week.

“We are asking county snowmobile associations in both Minnesota and Iowa to keep their eyes open while on the trails, especially when in the road ditches,” Nelson said.

“Also, pay close attention to drainage ditches, creek beds and rivers. We also ask that motorists pay close attention when they are out and about for any signs of Weiland or his truck.”

Weiland is 6 feet tall and weighs 230 pounds. He wears glasses and uses a prosthetic limb on his right leg.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black pullover with “Iowa” across the front.

He was driving a red 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup with Iowa license plate 588 WOS.

Weiland’s niece said Monday that her uncle wouldn’t have just taken off without telling anyone, especially around the holidays.

“It’s over Christmas. He would never do this. He has three kids, one of the them, the youngest is only 12. He would never do this to them,” said Weiland’s niece, Elise Weber, 20, Corwith. “He wouldn’t put this on us on purpose.”

Nelson has known Weiland for many years and said he was “as surprised as anyone” to be searching for Weiland.

“This is not something I would have expected,” Nelson said.

Jon Weiland and his estranged wife, Janelle Weiland of Britt, have three children together.

Weiland works for Monson & Sons Inc., a trucking company in Britt.

Weber said authorities searched from the air on Saturday. The family has been searching for him themselves.

The Britt Police Department is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol aircraft and gound units, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Faribault County Sheriff’s Office and the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Department.