News

Whiteside County Senior center, thrift store to remain closed through the summer

Because the Whiteside County Senior Center is in the unique position of also being home to Whiteside County Public Transportation, whose drivers are in contact with the public regularly, center officials are choosing to keep it and its thrift store, The Emporium, closed until at least the end of August, as a precaution against exposing its high-risk members and volunteers to COVID-19. Pictured here are drivers Tina Benson (left), Ken Whipple, Baylei Ferris, Asa Scot and Audra Clark. (Submitted)

By BY KATHLEEN

STERLING – The Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., where Whiteside County Public Transportation is based, and its thrift store, The Emporium, 115 W. Third St., will remain closed until at least the end of August, center officials said in a message to its members.

Although Phase 4 of Restore Illinois provides guidelines for senior centers to reopen, with COVID-19 cases on the rise and the public transportation bus drivers going in and out of the center all day, officials "made the hard decision to remain closed for the time being," they said.

Not only are the county's public buses based at the senior center, but also, all the volunteers who work the thrift store are seniors, and so are at higher risk from the virus.

Whiteside County Public Transportation closed in mid-March and began a slow reopening June 1, allowing only one rider on a bus at a time and frequently sanitizing.

That number now is up to three riders per bus, who are asked to wear masks and socially distance.

Call 815-625-7433 to schedule a ride; go to ridewcpt.net or find WCPT on Facebook for more information.