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Illinois Department of Natural Resources hosting New Year’s Day hiking event

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Illinois Department of Natural Resources hosting New Year’s Day hiking event


DIXON – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants outdoor enthusiasts to start the year off on the right foot with a First Day Hike at an Illinois state park on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

The IDNR is hosting free, self-guided hikes at 15 state parks across Illinois on New Year’s Day. These parks will feature stickers and special photo opportunities for hikers, who are encouraged to share photos and videos of their hikes on social media using the hashtags #ILStateParks and #FirstDayHikes.

“There’s no better way to clear your head, say goodbye to the stress of the holidays, and welcome a new year than to get outdoors for some fresh air and exercise,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said. “The trails at Illinois state parks are ready and waiting for you.”

The following is a list of participating state parks:

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  • Beall Woods State Park in Wabash County
  • Beaver Dam State Park in Macoupin County
  • Cache River State Natural Area in Johnson County
  • Castle Rock State Park in Ogle County
  • Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek State Park in Shelby County
  • Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County
  • Ferne Clyffe State Park in Johnson County
  • Fox Ridge State Park in Coles County
  • Giant City State Park in Jackson County
  • Illinois Beach State Park in Lake County
  • Pere Marquette State Park in Jersey County
  • Rock Island Trail State Park in Stark County
  • Sand Ridge State Forest in Mason County
  • Sangchris Lake State Park in Sangamon County
  • William Powers State Recreation Area in Cook County

First Day Hikes is a campaign in partnership with the America’s State Parks Foundation encouraging participants to hike, bike and visit state parks on the first day of the new year since 1992. Hikers can find trail maps and other useful information at the Illinois First Day Hikes website.

For more information contact dnr.parksadmin@illinois or call 217-782-6302.



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Illinois

Beecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’

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Beecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’


BEECHER CITY, Ill. (WAND) – Farms were damaged in Effingham County Wednesday evening when a powerful storm swept through at around 8 p.m.

The McKay Farm in Beecher City was heavily damaged when the rapidly moving storm hit.

“Two buildings were totally destroyed,” Dan McKay told WAND News on Thursday. “We’ve got five grain bins and they’re all damaged.”

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The buildings collapsed onto farm equipment and a semi that were parked in the structures. A utility pole was snapped and ripped out of the ground.

In nearby Shumway, another farm was hit. A barn collapsed, with a grain bin being ripped apart and debris traveling several hundred feet through a nearby corn field. A house on the property was also damaged.

There were no injuries on either farm.

“It was a really wicked storm,” McKay stated.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.

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Powerful tornadoes leave behind devastation in Illinois

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Powerful tornadoes leave behind devastation in Illinois




Powerful tornadoes leave behind devastation in Illinois – CBS News

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Violent tornadoes ripped through central Illinois on Wednesday, leaving behind swaths of destruction. One man described how he shielded himself and his family from the storms. Rob Marciano reports.

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Storms bring damaging winds and heavy rains to central Illinois

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Storms bring damaging winds and heavy rains to central Illinois


PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Multiple rounds of severe storms impacted central Illinois on Wednesday bringing damaging wind gusts and very heavy rain. Our area was sparred from the worst of the tornadoes, but areas south of I-72 were not so fortunate with damage to homes and injuries reported.

An outflow boundary from our morning storms struggled to get any further north than highway 136, which was about 30 miles south of what was anticipated early this morning. This kept the risk of strong tornadoes just south of our local region, though we still had plenty of rain and instances of large hail and gusty winds roll through central Illinois.

The worst of the wind came with the storms in the morning. As the severe storms moved through the area they produced measured gust of 60-70 mph with localized gusts estimated to be around 80 mph. The winds resulted in tree, powerline, and structural damage from Knox through McLean County.

Storm Reports

Galesburg – Tree and power line damage
Williamsfield – Roof partially torn off building
Princeville – Tree damage
Dunlap – 60 mph wind gust
Bellevue – 60 mph wind gust
Germantown Hills – Trees down
Roanoke – 60 mph wind gust
El Paso – Power poles snapped
El Paso – Multiple semis and campers rolled on I-39
Gidley – 70 mph wind gust
Chenoa – Semi rolled on I-55

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Dunlap – 1.0″ size hail
Metamora – 1.0″ size hail
Armington – 1.0″ size hail

Rain reports

West Peoria – 4.37″
Lexington – 4.00″
West Peoria – 3.98″
Washington – 3.97″
East Peoria – 3.47″
Dunlap – 3.40″
Goodfield – 2.47″
Towanda – 2.43″
Peoria (PIA) – 2.24″
Lewistown – 2.20″
Galesburg – 1.84″
Chillicothe – 1.52″
Pontiac – 1.27″



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