COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 UPDATE Mobile testing done in Forreston and Mt. Morris

15 tests for Forreston, eight done by 3 p.m. in Mt. Morris

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Ogle County residents had a chance at a quick and easy COVID19 test on Monday in Forreston and Mt. Morris.

Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness provided mobile testing sites for two hours in each village that yielded 15 tests in Forreston and eight tests as of 3 p.m. in Mt. Morris.

“I was expecting to see a little bit more people coming in,” Aunt Martha’s Health Educator Oswaldo Lopez said. “We haven’t seen as many as we wanted here. We expected quite a few people. It’s been kind of slow. I think we need to do more outreach. I think a lot of people don’t know we’re here. Only a few people know, and those people were here.”

Lopez, who was administering the tests, said he came prepared with 250 tests for the day. When testing in Coal City, he said they did 70 tests at one site.

This was the first time in the area for Aunt Martha’s and Lopez said testing numbers were close to other similar-sized communities they’ve

COVID-19 UPDATE BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

The Ogle County Health Department reported 11 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Sept. 22 for a new total of 661.

Two new cases were reported Saturday, 11 on Sunday and nine on Monday. Ages and locations of the individuals that test positive are not being released to protect their privacy.

Recoveries of documented cases stand at 551, but the OCHD recently said due to switching systems, recoveries won’t be updated for two weeks.

The county reported its sixth death on Sept. 15, a female in her

Alex T. Paschal/Shaw Media

Oswaldo Lopez, a health education worker for Aunt Martha’s of Rockford speaks about the COVID-19 testing tent the organization has set up in Mt Morris. The team spent a couple hours in Forreston Monday before moving to Mt. Morris.

been in.

The testing was done in a drive-thru format. Testees are given a form to fill out and self-test. If they don’t want to test themselves, the test is administered to them. There was no appointment required like at a hospital.

“This is accessible and takes a few minutes,” Lopez said. “The longest is to fill out the form. If you have insurance, we collect that. It is free for people without insurance. We want people to have access. We try to bill the insurance, if they say no, 70s.

The Illinois Department of Public Health site said Tuesday that there are 311 cases in the 61068 zip code that includes Rochelle, Creston and White Rock. Stillman Valley’s zip code, 61084, has 29 cases in it according to the IDPH site. Byron’s zip code, 61010, has 93 cases. Davis Junction (61020) has 28 cases. The zip codes that house Oregon (61061) and Mt. Morris (61054) have 54 and 41 cases, respectively.

Polo’s zip code, 61064, has 33 cases in it. Leaf River (61047) has 12 cases. Forreston (61030), which was recently added to the IDPH’s reporting, has nine cases. we cover it. In other words, yes, it’s free.”

There were no symptoms required to be tested. 80 percent of cases are asymptomatic, Lopez said. Most of those that came to be tested wanted it just to make sure they don’t have it, he said.

“It’s for their conscience,” Lopez said. “They want to make sure they aren’t carriers. They have a good sense of morality. That’s wonderful.”

Lopez said Aunt Martha’s tests all over the state at churches, schools

CRIME WATCH BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

A Byron man accused of murdering his ex-wife and 3-year-old son did not appear in Ogle County court as scheduled on Monday due to another continuance being opted for in his case.

The continuance was agreed to for Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m. by both parties to address possible pretrial motions, Ogle County State’s

Attorney Eric Morrow said.

Duane Meyer was charged in

October 2019 with four counts of first degree homicide, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the deaths of Maggie and Amos Meyer who were killed in a fire in 2016 and parking lots. The testing site at the Mt. Morris Sullivan’s was their first grocery store. Lopez said he enjoyed it because of the possibility of attracting shoppers that didn’t know about the testing beforehand.

About 80 percent of those that came out to be tested Monday were senior citizens, Lopez said. The other 10 percent were adults and the rest were minors.

Testees were asked why they wanted to be tested. If they believe they’ve been exposed, they were asked to bring people who have been around them in for testing.

The testing method was PCR format, not a rapid test. The PCR format is more accurate, Lopez said. The rapid test method can have results back in 15 minutes, but has a larger margin of error, he said.

“The return rate is 3-5 days,” Lopez said. “It has been sooner, even. They find out through us. It’s faster than month’s past. We had to close down for two weeks for too many tests. Our labs were so slow. Now it’s much faster.”

Aunt Martha’s started as a social services organization for youth in 1972. It evolved into medical care, foster homes, substance abuse help and more for underserved, rural communities.

Mobile testing will also be done in Polo on Monday, Sept. 28 from 11-1

Ogle County cases climb to 661 as of Sept. 22

Meyer double murder case continued again

p.m. at 212 S. Division Ave.

Duane Meyer Maggie and Amos

that was determined to be an arson.

Continuances were granted last month and in March to allow both parties time to review “voluminous” cell phone records. The case was delayed early in the summer due to COVID-19.

Meyer is currently being held in the Ogle County Jail on a $10 million bond.

POLO CITY COUNCIL Project Humane proposes a plan for feral cats

Group asks to assume responsibility and form TNR program

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Controlling the city of Polo’s feral cat population may soon be the responsibility of a private group of local citizens that took issue with the city’s recent ordinance regarding the felines.

Project Humane Polo made a presentation to the city council on Monday where it offered to establish a trap neuter release program, address nuisance cat situations, and work to reduce the city’s feral cat population all at its own expense.

The group currently has 96 volunteers and has raised $400 in funds.

“I know every year there’s been a cat issue in Polo,” Project Humane Polo Member Cheryl Galor said. “I think this is our solution. The best way to save 100, 200 or 300 cats is to start neutering one, another one and another one. We do need to address this problem and we have a good program and solution for all of the complaints that have been going on.”

Project Humane Polo has partnered with nonprofit Happy Tails Humane Society in Rock Falls and plans to take the feral cats there to

COUNTY NEWS BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

A group of Ogle County organization representatives won’t be taking the Byron nuclear plant’s planned closure lying down.

An announcement was made last Friday about the formation of the Byron Station Response Committee, which plans to develop a “collaborative, broad-based response” to Exelon’s announcement of its intent to close Byron Station in September 2021.

Byron School District Superintendent Buster Barton, who seems to be in a leadership position with the committee, said the idea to form it came from the community after a number of people reached

Jeff Helfrich/Shaw Media

TOP LEFT: Cheryl Galor led Project Humane Polo’s presentation at Monday’s city council meeting. TOP RIGHT: Polo Mayor Doug Knapp listens to the presentation.

provide spay and neutering services and veterinary care for a fee of $32 per cat.

Happy Tails President Mark Razo has been working with the group and attended the meeting Monday to address concerns and questions.

“TNR is a way to reduce your cat population in the town,” Razo said. “TNR is a humane way to solve the problem. You will reduce the population. We are supporting that and helping them raise money for that. The city doesn’t have to fund this at all. We could also go for grants with the city’s cooperation.”

Polo’s recent feral cat ordinance included fines for those caught feeding cats they don’t own as well as limiting the number of animals residents can own.

Alderman Troy Boothe asked the group if they could guarantee him that problem cats will be addressed, especially those that defecate on people’s property, which has been a main issue for the city.

“It sounds promising, but it doesn’t address defecation,” Boothe said. “I need problem cats gone, period. I have a responsibility for everybody. I’m 100 percent for it if that will happen. I don’t want to hear there are resource constraints when there is a problem.”

Galor responded by saying the group would relocate those animals.

“Give us a chance,” Galor said. “I know we have a program that’s going to work. These are solutions. If the cat is really a nuisance, we will relocate it.”

Project Humane Polo estimates there are 500 feral cats in town, but is unsure of the accuracy of that number, which is based on a formula. Under their plan, volunteers would trap and transport the cats for treatment before releasing them back where they were found.

The treated cats would also be microchipped and have their ears notched to be tracked. Nuisance cats could be released outside of town. The group plans on it being at least a three-year program.

City Attorney Tom Suits raised the issue of potential liability for the city by giving the responsibility to address the issue to Project Humane Polo.

“There’s absolutely potential liability,” Suits said. “If the nuisance call comes to the city and the city contacts this group to go handle it, is the city liable for something that may happen? We don’t know that.”

The city did not take any action on the issue after the presentation and said it will work to have it on its

Byron station response committee established

next agenda, possibly for approval. out following the closure region as a whole and said announcement. Barton’s the impact of it closing is a district received just over lot larger than “one would $19.1 million taxes from the initially think.” plant last year. The group said it is aware

“It just goes to show you that the solution will involve how much our communilegislative action and will ty cares about our school require broad-based support district and how importand far-reaching plans until ant the power plant is to Buster Barton the end of the legislative sesour funding,” Barton said sion in May 2021. in a press release. “We think this “We need to start small in our own committee will help identify and local communities to share informamobilize groups that can spread our tion, and build an understanding to message that the power plant should extend our network and message to be kept open.” the surrounding communities, and

The committee’s first meeting indeed all of Illinois,” Byron Mayor was convened Sept. 10 by the Byron John Rickard said. School Board. Christine Lynde, Barton said the committee is compresident of that board, touted posed of local leaders, citizens, taxthe importance of the plant to the ing bodies, elected officials, administrators, representatives of a local bank, representatives of the chamber of commerce, representatives of the Byron School District unions and employees at the nuclear plant. .

The group has identified key stakeholders, worked to craft messages and developed a rough timeline for people to engage with the cause.

Barton said he hopes to get out a “consistent, accurate” message to educate supporters until the veto session in November so supporters will know how to contact their legislators when the time comes.

It is the group’s hope that when the spring legislative session begins, there will be a bill prepared to save