Latest news with #WillardAirport
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Savoy mock plane crash prepares first responders
SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) — Willard Airport is preparing for the worst case scenario: a plane crash. Their emergency preparedness exercise isn't a new event, but it keeps response tactics fresh for the first responders who would be on the scene if a plane crashed. The FAA requires Willard Airport to carry out this exercise every three years. 4 years later: Champaign Deputy Chief reflects on death of Officer Chris Oberheim 'It's important for us so we can see if they're any weak spots in our system,' Airport Fire Marshal John Cumbee said. Plane crashes seem to be a hot topic as places like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and spots closer to home like Trilla, Ill. grapple with the aftermath. Willard officials said they don't believe plane crashes are any more common than they used to be, only more prevalent in the media. Around 50 volunteers played the victims in Willard's exercise, acting as if they were part of the next accident in the headlines. 'I think the biggest thing we can give people is safety and peace of mind,' Cumbee said. 'They want to know [that] if they're flying they're going to be taken care of.' Cop on a Rooftop raises $1.2M for Special Olympics Illinois The volunteers laid alongside weighted dummies waiting for help. Some were even taken to the hospital to help staff hone in on their emergency response skills. 'Any incident this large is going to take a lot of resources,' Cumbee said. The end result is county-wide preparedness for the unthinkable, and to be best equipped if that day comes. Every department of first responders will be analyzed on how their performance is to better inform how they do things going forward. Willard officials said, while they do the full-scale exercise every three years, they still hold smaller-scale practices every year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NWS: Friday dust storm could be referred to as 'Haboob'
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) – The National Weather Service in Chicago says they believe yesterday's rare and powerful dust storm across Central and Northern Illinois could be classified as a 'Haboob' based on how things played out. A Haboob is an intense dust storm caused by strong winds lofting a wall of dust as high as 5,000 feet, leading to a significant reduction in visibility and an increase in wind speed following the passage of the leading edge of the haboob. They also usually lead to blowing dust that lasts for tens of minutes or even several hours. Typically, Haboobs occur in desert and semi-arid areas, but an extremely unique combination of ingredients with very dry air aloft caused intense downbursts to crash to the ground well ahead of storms combined with low relative humidity, low soil moisture and farming activity that regularly occurs at this time of year. This dust storm/haboob was a wall of dust running east-west that stretched from along I-55 and I-39 near Bloomington all the way into Western Indiana, lifting north quickly and making it all the way into Lake Michigan. Top wind gusts included 78 mph on Lake Michigan by Chicago, 75mph in Oxford, IN, 69 mph at Willard Airport, 64 mph in South Chicago, 61 mph in Decatur, 60 mph at Midway Airport and 55 mph in Joliet. It was the first time the National Weather Service Office in Chicago had issued a dust storm warning for the city. They issued a total of four dust storm warnings. The last time they issued a dust storm warning for their county warning area was on May 7th, 2023 for parts of Ford, Livingston and Iroquois Counties. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued dust storm warnings before. There's been a number of dust storm warnings used since a massive fiery pile-up killed 8 people on I-55 south of Springfield in 2023. STORY: 'This was a very rare and catastrophic event for the state:' NWS, ISP reflect on deadly I-55 dust storm crash' The dust storm caused many crashes and a few pile-ups, including some on I-55, I-74, US-136, IL-10 and IL-165 in Central Illinois according to state police and local fire departments. State Police closed part of I-74 west of Farmer City for a period of time to respond to the crashes Friday evening. It has since reopened. One crash west of Fisher sent 4 people to the hospital. Officials in Ford County also responded to a 7 vehicle pile-up on IL 165 west of Sibley involving a tow truck, 5 cars and an RV. No one was hurt there. The last time Chicago was impacted by such a significant dust storm was during the Dust Bowl on May 10th, 1934. Photo Below: Kim Schmidt from Chicago during the dust and what her view normally looks like. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top of the Morning, April 8, 2025
Apr. 8—We're happy to report that Willard Airport's oft-broken down escalator is running smoothly again. It's been a problem for three years — and a popular Kathy's Mailbag topic — forcing passengers to hoof it from the upper concourse to the main lobby in Savoy. "The unit has performed well since repairs, which included replacement of the steps, handrails, bullgear and main gearbox," Executive Director Tim Bannon said. "We are grateful the issues have been resolved." At the end of 2024, Willard solicited public comment on projects totaling $8.5 million, including renovation of a terminal building that was built in the late 1980s. Bannon said 14 comments were received, including several that "were general in nature regarding air service and flight options. All comments were reviewed and considered as we plan for the projects. No changes were made to the projects as a result of the public comment session." *** Willard is a sponsor of "Monday Morning Quarterbacks" on WDWS 1400-AM/93.9-FM, Voice of the Illini Brian Barnhart and Hall of Famer Loren Tate wrapping up another season this week. Monday also marked the final live-audience radio show of the school year at the Esquire Lounge, Shauna Green joining N-G sportswriters. The crowds — and guests — were among the best since we took "The News-Gazette Sports Page" to downtown in 2009. Both popular WDWS programs will return in September.
