The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston man was arrested Wednesday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 40-year old Jayson Lee Joyce was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Joyce was later released from the jail on a $500 bond.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, heard from Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson and Officer Christian Holzapfel, with regard to a request for Load-Bearing Vests (LBV’s), which would replace the current standard duty belts officers wear, that, when equipped with the many required items they are required to carry, are causing lower back pain among many officers. Chief Erickson said the issues with lower back pain can be expected by older officers, but now they’re seeing it in the younger officers, as well. That’s where the LBV’s come in.

Atlantic Police Officer Christian Holzapfel demonstrates a model of vest the department is requesting.

Officer Holzapfel said the standard duty belt weighs about 25-to 30-pounds with the added equipment. He cited studies that show carrying the weight of the equipment on the waist and hips can over a period of years can cause posture and lower back issues. The LBV’s, he said, would transfer the load to ease the back crunching pain. The company that produces the vests Erickson and Holzapfel are interested in obtaining for the police force, is supplying similar-style vests to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, which has recently made the largest order for those vests in the State of Iowa. As Holzapfel passed his duty belt and the LBV to Council members, he spoke of how the LBV serves to increase an officer’s mobility and spreads the gear over a larger surface area, and can assist in the rescue of an injured officer.

He said a “drag strap” on the vests allows an officer to be dragged out of a dangerous situation if they are injured or otherwise unable to walk or run. The vests do have their drawbacks, though, including not being able to wear a coat over the vest in the Winter, but they’re looking at different options to overcome that. The other issue, according to Holzapfel, is a perception by the public of police coming off as being a militarized force. But he cited a Shelby County Deputy, who told him the citizens he’s spoken with has heard nothing but good things about how nice they look. The key, he said, is to make sure the public understands why police want the vests to alleviate back pain and related health issues.

The Council passed a Resolution designating Load-bearing vests as a Wellness Benefit for Atlantic Police Department Officers, and authorized the purchase of 12 vests for a total package estimate of $5,130. The vests have a five-year warranty, would match the current color of A-PD uniforms, and would be paid for through the Employee Benefits Fund.

In other business, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones announced the 4^th of July Fireworks would be out at the Atlantic Airport again this year, and not at the Schildberg Recreation Area, as hoped, due to issues with visibility and safety. And, the Council approved the re-appointments of various individuals to City Commissions, including:

• Christina Bateman to the Community Promotion Commission
• Jim Behrens and Roger Herring to the Planning & Zoning Commission
• Dave Knudsen to the Board of Adjustment
• and Mike Henningsen to the Airport Commission.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, heard from Chamber and CADCO officials, with regard to a proposed $100,000 pledge from the City’s Economic Development Revolving Loan (EDR) Fund that is intended to act as a source of loans for new business start-ups, in Atlantic. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith talked about the terms of the loans. (Click on the left side of a sound bar below to listen)

The loans are intended for anyone seeking to establish a business in Atlantic, but is tailored more toward younger entrepreneurs in their 20’s and early 30’s. Those persons must have a business plan and provide other, required financial information. CADCO has it’s own Revolving Loan Fund for the anywhere in the County, but CADCO Executive Assistant Jennifer Rosener-McEntaffer said that fund is depleted.

The Council approved a pledge of funds for the EDR. Toward the end of the Council’s session, during the Public Forum, discussion about the EDR became heated, when Talya Kamies and Thomas Schroeder suggested the Council strongly consider making funds available as part of an incentives program via means of a grant, instead of a loan. Kamies and Schroeder are the owners of “Style 60,” a women’s boutique. They recently purchased the former Howard’s Clothing Store at 415 Chestnut in downtown Atlantic.

Kamies ran the business out of her home for about six months before moving her current location on West 7^th Street. She said Mayor Dave Jones approached her about obtaining a SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council) loan, instead of using the EDR fund she’d been told about. That didn’t sit well with her, because she says it appear the fund – which currently has about $220,000 – has not been used.

That’s why she, and Thomas Schroeder, were adamant that the City strongly consider making grants available to small business owners, instead of a loan. Schroeder said their business would use grant money to make exterior improvements to their building downtown, and utilize other local businesses to make that happen.

The meeting became contentious, when Kamies and Schroeder accused Mayor Jones of not being willing to listen to their suggestions and instead pushed them toward other incentives instead of the EDR. Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson threatened to have Kamies and Schroeder removed after an argument erupted between them, the Mayor and Councilperson Kathy Somers.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones told the crowd the first step is to get the loan money out there through the EDR. He mentioned a group currently working on another plan, and more information could be released on that program as early as next week.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an officer shot a driver who’d been trying to flee the scenes of several crashes in Davenport. Officers were dispatched around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday to check reports of two hit-and-run crashes. Authorities say the driver of vehicle that matched a description of the hit-and-run vehicle sped away through a residential yard after being spotted by officers and soon struck another vehicle.

Police say an officer fired two shots at a nearby intersection during an attempt to apprehend the driver. It’s unclear what led the officer to fire. The driver was taken to a local hospital and then flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, late Wednesday morning, arrested 26-year old Jesse A. Luft, of Villisca. Luft was arrested following a complaint he allegedly violated a Protective Order, and for Criminal Trespass. He was later released from custody on a $300 bond.