Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
LANSING, Ill. — It's been a month since a derecho tore through Lansing, and there's still a lot of tree debris left.
To tackle it, the Village of Lansing's Public Works department and its tree contractors have set up something called a "burn curtain" behind the closed Cinema 8 building on Exchange Avenue.
In this video, Meredith Shamburger talks to Public Works Supervisor Earl O'Neal and contractors working on the project about the mechanics of the burn curtain and gets details about how the debris cleanup is progressing.
They've handed an estimated 80,000 cubic yards of debris so far, and O'Neal estimates they've still got about two or three more weeks of work ahead to finish clearing the initial debris and then working on the remaining parkway tree stumps.
Exchange Avenue is currently closed to thru-traffic between the Olive Garden at Torrence Avenue and the Great Escape’s main entrance while this process is taking place.
=========
Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
Is there something specific you'd like us to make a video of? Email info@thelansingjournal.org to let us know.
=========
The questionable politics of Thornton Township Supervisors Tiffany Henyard and now Napoleon Harris brought new viewers and subscribers to our channel, and we appreciate their interest in our local politics. But most of the news that happens in Lansing and other parts of Thornton Township is much less dramatic, though just as important. The Lansing Journal serves a diverse community and offers a diverse range of news — stories that are often overlooked by larger media. If you are interested in what local news looks like, subscribe to The Lansing Journal:
• Our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
• Our Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: thelansingjournal.org/donate
Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community.
MISSION
The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible.
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
LANSING, Ill. — It's been a month since a derecho tore through Lansing, and there's still a lot of tree debris left.
To tackle it, the Village of Lansing's Public Works department and its tree contractors have set up something called a "burn curtain" behind the closed Cinema 8 building on Exchange Avenue.
In this video, Meredith Shamburger talks to Public Works Supervisor Earl O'Neal and contractors working on the project about the mechanics of the burn curtain and gets details about how the debris cleanup is progressing.
They've handed an estimated 80,000 cubic yards of debris so far, and O'Neal estimates they've still got about two or three more weeks of work ahead to finish clearing the initial debris and then working on the remaining parkway tree stumps.
Exchange Avenue is currently closed to thru-traffic between the Olive Garden at Torrence Avenue and the Great Escape’s main entrance while this process is taking place.
=========
Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
Is there something specific you'd like us to make a video of? Email info@thelansingjournal.org to let us know.
=========
The questionable politics of Thornton Township Supervisors Tiffany Henyard and now Napoleon Harris brought new viewers and subscribers to our channel, and we appreciate their interest in our local politics. But most of the news that happens in Lansing and other parts of Thornton Township is much less dramatic, though just as important. The Lansing Journal serves a diverse community and offers a diverse range of news — stories that are often overlooked by larger media. If you are interested in what local news looks like, subscribe to The Lansing Journal:
• Our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
• Our Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: thelansingjournal.org/donate
Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community.
MISSION
The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible.
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
