|
|
|
Ferry service to Mackinac Island could face uncertainty beyond when they start full service this year. While this year’s startup has been delayed by ice, the island’s operators warn they may stop service after 2027 if new contracts aren’t reached. Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company—both owned by the same parent company—say disputes with the city over rates and regulations have stalled negotiations. A federal judge is urging both sides to reach a deal, noting millions depend on the service. Officials say the 2026 season will operate as normal. Federal regulators are ordering urgent inspections of dams across Michigan following this month’s historic flooding, including the Cheboygan Dam powerhouse. Officials say high water and snowmelt may have caused hidden damage, raising concerns about delayed failures like those seen after the 1986 floods. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given dam operators deadlines to report on safety and repairs, while state crews begin their own inspections. Authorities warn the risk isn’t over yet, especially in the Upper Peninsula where deep snowpack remains. Northern Michigan is a mental health care desert according to a new report from the Michigan House of Representatives. The report highlights a critical shortage of psychiatric beds that forces some patients, including islanders, to travel more than 100 miles for care. The state ranks near the bottom nationally, and advocates say the region has no inpatient beds for children at all. Leaders with National Alliance on Mental Illness say a new facility in northern Michigan could bring care closer to home, and lawmakers are now being urged to fund it in the next state budget. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Natural Resources Department has been named the 2025 Conservationist of the Year by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. The award recognizes the tribe’s extensive work protecting Michigan’s biodiversity—from monitoring species like bald eagles, lake sturgeon, and piping plovers to restoring wild rice and tracking forest health. Officials say the data collected by LTBB plays a key role in statewide conservation planning and supports Indigenous cultural stewardship across northern Michigan, including research projects in the Beaver Island archipelago. Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Natural Resources Department members accept their DNR award. Photo by Michigan DNR from Facebook At the Elks Saturday night, Maeve drew the eight of spades from envelope 22, meaning the Queen remains in hiding for next week’s raffle. She takes home a $25 consolation prize, and the jackpot now stands at $3,030.
|
|
Now here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… Peaine Township Board has a special meeting this afternoon at 4:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online. On the fun front today… Monday evening is All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock. Tuesday at 10:00, Babes & Toddlers mix it up at the library and there is Pickleball in the Theater at the BIC Center and, at 10:30, there’s Chair Strength Training up in the Hangout. At 2:15 there’s a Home School Meet-up at the library. At 5:00 at school, student athletes will be honored at Sports Awards night. All are welcome to attend. Highlights for the rest of the week include… Wednesday, there’s BINGO at 1:00 at the BIC Center. And at 5:00 it’s Time for Art, at the BIC Center. Also Wednesday evening at school, the Nathinal Honor Society will induct new members. The ceremony will be in the high school commons and all are welcome to attend. Thursday Women’s Bible Study is on at 10:00 at the Christian Church. There’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00 in the Theater. At 10:30 up in the Hangout there’s Senior Tai Chi. At 11:00 at the BIC Center, there’ll be a Microgreens Luncheon with ham, mashed potatoes, vegetables, a microgreen salad and desert. Three bucks for seniors and six for others. Thursday evening, there’s Pickleball at 5:00 in the Theater at the BIC Center. Afterwards, you can grab the burger & a beer special at the Shamrock starting at 5:00, and its Euchre Night down at Whiskey Point Brewing. Cards hit the table at 7:00. [Thursday evening on the radio, drop in for W-V-B-I’s newest music show. It’s The Underground with Leila Freijy. It’s the underground sound of grunge and more from the 80s and 90s with special features every week. Tune in at 7:00 for two hours Underground.] Friday, Senior + Vets Coffee & Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. There’s Pickleball at 10:00 and Chair Strength Training at 10:30. Friday evening the Flower Full Moon will shine over Paradise Bay. There’s more info at Dark Sky Island dot org. [On the radio, Kick off your weekend with our fantastic Friday lineup! After the 6:00pm news, enjoy “That Thing with Rich Appel” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00pm, tune into “The Titus Jennings Experience” offering music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00pm for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.] Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00. And, remember, Saturdays are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. [On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, take a trip back to the best of the 80s and 90s with the Mix Tape show (that’s a 120-minute TDK cassette tape for those in the know) hosted by WVBI’s Adam Pettigrew. Mark Beltaire takes over at 9:00 with Rockin’ the Boat and continues at 10:00 with the Blues Cruise. Cousin Dan wraps up the evening with the Too Good Radio Show starting at 11:00.] Sunday, there are services at the Christian Church at 10:00 and mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. |
|
Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Lois. If that’s your name, come on it to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
|
On our Birthday List today: Charlie Gray, Ivan Young, Lois Stipp, Mason Rood, Deb Pmorski, Nathan Hutten Locker and Kate Eisenmann. Happy Birthday to Kate, Deb, Lois, Nate, Mason, Ivan and Charlie and if we missed you on the list Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI. |
|
TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly. There are no bridge delays. Still, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
|
On this date in 1982, On this date in 1982, the trial of John Hinckley Jr. begins, following his shooting of President Ronald Reagan and his press secretary James Bradey outside the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C. Hinckley successfully asserts a defense of insanity leading to the Insanity Defense Reform Act, which makes the defense harder to use and shifts the burden of proof to defendants. Hinckley spends decades in psychiatric care and is fully released from court supervision in 2022. Brady dies in 2014 with his death attributed to the shooting. After the 2024 assignation attempt on President Trump, Hinckley tweets “Violence is not the way to go. Give peace a chance.” President Ronald Reagan waving to crowds immediately before being shot. James Brady is to his right. Photo by Michael Evans / White House Photographic Office (via National Archives) available on Wikimedia |
|
Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is boondoggle (noun) [BOON-dah-gul]. a term for a wasteful or pointless project, especially one that costs a lot of time or money. But that wasn’t its original meaning. Though there is debate about it, the best theory is that though that a scoutmaster made it up to name the braided leather cords made and worn by Boy Scouts. It developed its pointless sense in 1930s debated over government spending. Today, it’s most often used to describe things—from bloated budgets to unnecessary projects—that seem to go nowhere. |
|
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
|
Here’s a thought for the day from James Brady: “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. I have several stands around here.” |
|
On a lighter note: I only know 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y. |
|
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, April 27th, 2026. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
|
### |
|
Today A 30 percent chance of showers after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 63 by the water and 65 in the woods. East wind around 15 mph. Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11pm. Low around 42. Breezy, with a southeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tuesday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then a chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 43/47 by 7am. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 45/48. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 43/45. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34/32. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 44/47. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 45/48. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47/51. |
|
Town: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.52&lat=45.748 |
|
Out on the Big Drink … |
|
Today ESE wind 10 to 20 kt. A chance of showers after 5pm. Waves 1 to 3 ft. Tuesday SW wind 15 to 20 kt becoming W in the afternoon. A chance of showers before 1pm. Waves 3 to 5 ft. Wednesday WNW wind 5 to 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
|
Midway to Charlevoix: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.384&lat=45.532 |
|
Air Quality Index at 6:30 this morning was 21. |
|
|
|
|
|
Coming up in our Community Calendar Report… Ferry service to Mackinac Island faces long-term uncertainty as operators warn they could shut down after 2027 without new contracts. Plus, urgent dam inspections are underway after historic flooding, and a new report calls northern Michigan a mental health care desert. We’ll also tell you who’s being honored for protecting the region’s natural resources—and why the Queen of Hearts is still in hiding at the Elks. …those stories plus a run-down of local meetings and events, birthdays, our word of the day and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
|
Today’s Featured Image: Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Natural Resources Department members accept their DNR award. Photo by Michigan DNR from Facebook |
