8 minute read
COVID-19 Update
from Forreston Journal
by Shaw Media
COVID-19 UPDATE Ogle County reports 8 new cases, totaling 398
BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
The Ogle County reported eight new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Aug. 4 totaling 398. Recoveries of documented cases stand at 347, with no new ones Tuesday.
The OCHD reported its fifth death in the county on July 10, its first since June 1. Ages and locations of the individuals are not being released to protect their privacy.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued warnings for 11 counties, including Jo Daviess and Whiteside counties, which fall in the Northwest Illinois region that includes the Rock River region.
According to the IDPH, the counties under warning saw outbreaks associated with business operations and activities posing higher risk for disease spread, including school graduation ceremonies, a rise in cases among late teens and 20s, parties and social gatherings, people going to bars, long-term care outbreaks, clusters of cases associated with restaurants and churches, and big sports events including soccer, golf, and softball tournaments.
Residents of many communities are not wearing face coverings that have been proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Public health officials are finding that most contacts to cases are testing positive as well, the IDPH said.
The IDPH site said Tuesday that there are 191 cases in the 61068 zip code that includes Rochelle, Creston and White Rock.
Stillman Valley’s zip code, 61084, has 14 cases in it according to the IDPH site. Byron’s zip code, 61010, has 47 cases. Davis Junction (61020) has 18 cases.
The zip codes that house Oregon (61061) and Mt. Morris (61054) have 34 and 26 cases, respectively.
Polo’s zip code, 61064, has 22 cases in it. Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media
The Polo Pool reopened last week after enough staff members tested negative after possibly being exposed to COVID-19. All clear for swimming pool
BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
The Polo Pool reopened Friday, July 31 at normal hours after employees found out July 27 that they may have been exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 after Polo High’s prom on July 18.
The pool had nine employees tested July 28 and received seven negatives with two still waiting on results, Pool Manager Kayla Bergstrom said on July 30.
The popular outdoor pool was closed for four days.
“We have enough negative tests and staff to run the pool,” Bergstrom said last week. “We cleaned the entire facility during the closing.”
The Ogle County Health Department was notified of the negative tests and the pool’s intentions to reopen. Bergstrom said she understands why some of the public would not want to attend the pool after the scare, but she isn’t worried about the turnout, with attendance already limited due to state guidelines.
“We’re opening for the people who are comfortable coming here,” Bergstrom said. “And we’re ready.”
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PEOPLE FEATURE Christen hits 30-year mark on Polo police force
BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
After being Polo Police Chief for over 18 years, Dennis Christen decided in 2016 that he wanted to go back to the rank of sergeant.
“It got rid of a lot of stress,” Christen said. “We were short handed and it was demanding. It’s like two full time jobs. You work your own shifts and you have to manage the department too. It’s been nice since.”
Christen was recognized at last month’s city council meeting for 30 years of service to the Polo Police Department, the only one he’s ever worked for.
According to Christen, it hasn’t felt like 30 years. He called it an honor to be recognized.
“It was very nice,” Christen said. “Polo is a nice place to live and work and raise a family. We don’t have bigger things that go wrong in bigger cities.”
EDUCATION NEWS
Oregon, Forreston, Polo opt for in-person and remote learning
BY JEFF HELFRICH
jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
Ogle County school districts Oregon, Polo and Forreston have finalized plans for returning to school in the fall amid COVID-19.
Each of the plans provide families with the option to choose in-person or remote learning for children. The in-person plans have been designed to abide by state guidelines like masking, social distancing, sanitization and certifying before school each day that COVID-19 symptoms aren’t present.
“You have to be careful not to make convenient decisions,” Oregon Superintendent Tom Mahoney
Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media
Polo Police Sergeant Dennis Christen stands by some of the equipment used by the department in past years.
Polo is still the “same old place,” Christen said. That has been part of the allure for him. The only major changes he remembers are all of the mayors and councils he’s served under.
Christen, a Lena native, did consider leaving to police elsewhere said. “We did surveys with parents. We started with a framework and flushed it out. Transportation, food service and instruction. We brought it to the teachers and kept doing it until we got to where we are now. We also provided updates to the families so they could see the working plan.”
Oregon’s plan will consist of fivehour instructional days. There will be some outside learning and breaks in tents.
There will also be mask breaks, social distancing measures and additional cleaning and sanitizing.
For remote learning, assignments will be due on a similar schedule as in-person learners.
Families will serve as the learning coach for their students. There is a six-week commitment to stay as a remote learner.
“For all of us, the hardest thing, we all feel like we’re doing the right thing, but what if we’re wrong?” Mahoney said. “Should it be parttime or full days? We just used the best information we had available.” early on. He decided against it due to having his family settled in Polo and making friends there.
Before being hired as a patrolman in 1990, Christen worked as a welder, a machinist and finally was running a dairy for three years before leaving for Polo PD.
Mahoney believes about 75 percent of families will choose in-person learning. He said staff has been positive about returning to school, but that there are “pockets” of teachers concerned for everyone’s health.
As far as years after 2020-2021, Mahoney thinks some of this year’s changes will stick around, but he’s unsure which. The changes that help kids learn will become part of Oregon’s future practices, he said.
Ogle County Health Department Public Administrator Kyle Auman said at July’s Ogle County Board meeting that cases staying low to allow a safe return to school is among his chief concerns. Mahoney anticipates that in-person learning could go away.
“I would be foolish to give you any level of confidence,” Mahoney said. “We’ve always built our plan around being able to go to remote learning if we have to. I think we’ll be in session in person. But at some point I think we’ll have to move into remote learning. We anticipate that.”
“I was always very interested,” Christen said. “I liked to help people. This was my first policing job. It was very neat to watch. I’ve seen kids go through school and I see second generations now. You really feel you’re part of the community.”
Christen thinks policing has evolved for the better in his 30 years. He thinks more victims are being helped with more resources.
As far as memories, sometimes Christen thinks of times he’s forgotten about. Off the top of his head, he thought of Sept. 11, 2001 when he was serving as chief.
“I was at training in Rochelle,” Christen said. “The call came in and there was concern for the Byron nuclear plant. We headed home to each of our departments to see what would happen next.”
Christen, 55, says that retirement is “on the horizon.” He said he’d transition into it if “the right thing” came along and that he’d help the department find somebody else. He’d still need health insurance and another job with benefits.
“It’s hard to believe all the time that’s elapsed,” Christen said. “Looking back, I’m glad I could stay
School districts finalize fall plans amid COVID-19
here and experience it all.”
Polo
Kelly Mandrell’s first year as Polo Superintendent will be an unprecedented one.
Polo will have just over seven-hour days in its new system due to Polo wanting kids to have access to extra classes like foods or industrial arts. Being a smaller district helps, Mandrell said.
Remote learning students will essentially be “Zooming” into the in-person courses over video chat. Students will log in with attendance each morning and lunch will be delivered to them. Students must follow the school dress code while at home.
Mandrell believes less families in her district will choose remote learning. In-person learning is valued by the academic community because of the extra benefits it provides, she said.
“When you come to school, you get the social aspect,” Mandrell said. See SCHOOLS, Page 7
