July 16, 2025
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Ogle County News

Ogle Housing Authority closes common areas

Not requiring masks for residents, still moving residents in and out

By Jeff Helfrich

The Ogle County Housing Authority's Howard Johnston Plaza is located at the corner of S. Third Street and Jefferson Street in Oregon. (Earleen Hinton)

Ogle County Housing Authority residents aren’t required to wear masks in or around the facility.

But Executive Director David Ditzler said he’d be happy to accept a donation for his elderly, handicapped and low-income residents. A Facebook post last week on a local page incorrectly said the masks were required. The housing complexes in Oregon, Polo and Forreston have taken measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“When this started, we sent out a bunch of stuff,” Ditzler said. “All of our common areas are closed. We only have laundry facilities left open.”

Move-ins were stopped at the beginning of the pandemic, but have now restarted since the pandemic has gone on. Meetings are happening online over Zoom or over the phone. There were people that needed to be housed, Ditzler said.

Throughout all of its complexes, the OCHA has around 180 residents. There haven’t been any cases of COVID-19 in those residences, Ditzler said.

“Normally, most of the folks are very sociable,” Ditzler said. “But now they’ve been good with staying in.”