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Michigan’s candidates for governor traded attacks over costs, schools and data centers in their final debate last night. Democrat Jocelyn Benson criticized Republican John James’ support for President Trump’s policies. James blamed Democratic leadership for weak school results and rising spending. Bridge Michigan’s fact-check found problems with claims from both sides. Benson has no authority over state budgets as secretary of state, despite James’ suggestion. And James didn’t vote to start the Iran war, as Benson suggested, though he repeatedly opposed efforts to end it. Both are open to suspending Michigan’s gas tax, but neither fully explained how to replace the road funding.
#Election2026
A controversial Google data center near Detroit Metro Airport clears another hurdle. Van Buren Township planners approved its site plan five to one Wednesday. Residents raised concerns about noise, water use and property values. The campus could use up to three-point-six million gallons of water daily, with electricity demand roughly equal to seven-hundred-fifty-thousand homes.
#Environment #Technology
The A-C-L-U of Michigan is opposing Traverse City’s proposed prowling and trespassing rules, saying they’re vague, raise constitutional concerns and could unfairly target homeless people. The proposal follows safety complaints and an assault at Hull Park. City commissioners vote Monday. Mayor Amy Shamroe says the city is awaiting its attorney’s opinion.
#Crime #CivilRights
Apex Insurance Services is coming to the Island next week for meetings on the upcoming Medicare Enrollment Season. They’ll be here on the 22nd and 23rd. Call 888-858-2739 to make an appointment.
#Seniors #Healthcare
Peaine Township has installed a new drop box for tax payments. It’s next to the back door. It’ll be a good option for last minute payments as putting it the mail on tax-day does not work or even the day before may not work because all mail now goes across to get post-marked, which delays the post mark by at least a day.
#Taxes
We have reports of an Island-wide power blip yesterday, and the high winds headed our way later today may cause more, but as of 7:00 this morning G-L-E was reporting no outages system wide. You can quickly check on outages on the WVBI website under the Weather Menu.
#IslandServices
GLE Outage map from 7:00 this morning showed no customers without power. Graphic from GLE
If you’re across tomorrow, or maybe stuck across because of the weather, here’s something that could be fun. N-M-C’s Rogers Observatory celebrates its forty-fifth anniversary with a public viewing event from 6:00 to 10:00 tomorrow evening. The dome opens and telescopes are available. You’ll find the observatory on Birmley Road near the Keystone Soccer Complex in Traverse City. Of course, stargazing depends on the clouds cooperating, but right now the forecast looks pretty good with clear skies in the forecast.
#DarkSkies
A reminder: Monday is Michigan’s deadline to register online or by mail for the November third election. Mailed applications must be postmarked by Monday, so that means they should be in the Island mail today at the latest. Visit M-I dot gov slash vote to get started. After Monday, you can still register in person at your township clerk’s office, with proof of residency, through Election Day.
#Election2026
Finally, with the big bag day fast approaching, here’s some information for your Halloween plans: The C-O-A has a lunch planned for the 23rd (that’s next Friday) at Peaine Township Hall starting at 11:30. R-S-V-P at 21-24 or by email to B-I Meals at Charlevoix County dot org. The library has a party planned from 3:00 to 5:00 p-m on Halloween with spooky snack, fun games and prizes. All are welcome. At School, the Student Council has planned a Haunted Hallway from 6:00 to 7:00 for students. There’s a an entry fee of $1 for K through sixth and $5 for seventh through twelfth that includes an after party from 7:00 to 9:00 for seventh to twelfth. Wear your costumes. Face painting, too, for $3. You can donate candy for the event during school hours. And, TUNES plans a Halloween open house with a look inside its studio, cider and sweet treats. Trick-or-treaters can pick up treat bags from 4:30 to 7:30. Everyone is welcome. The studio is next to the hardware.
mailto:bimeals@charlevoixcounty.org
#IslandEvents
The hallways at BICS will be haunted next Friday after school well into the evening. You can help make it fun for the kids with a donation of candy, snacks, treats and/or drinks. Drop those off in the school office during school hours. Graphic from BICS Student Council
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Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First, your meeting planner for the coming week…
Saturday
Next Tuesday
Next Wednesday
That’s your meeting lineup. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Senior and Veterans Coffee and Donuts runs from 8:30 to 10:30 in the BIC Center lobby. Pickleball starts at 10:00 at Peaine Township Park, followed by Chair Strength Training at 10:30 in the BIC Center Hangout. After school, Board Game Fridays brings game fun to the library from 3:30 to 5:00.
[On the radio, tonight’s lineup kicks off after the 6:00 news with “That Thing with Rich Appel,” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00, “The Titus Jennings Experience” offers music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00.]
Saturday
[On the radio, Country Classics starts at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, WVBI’s Adam Pettigrew takes you back to the best of the 80s and 90s with the Mix Tape show. 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
Looking into highlights for next week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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Those are the highlights. Find a full listing of events at calendar dot W-V-B-I dot net.
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Alan. If that’s your name, come on down to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice.
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On our Birthday List: On our list today is Erin Myers. Happy Birthday to Erin, and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI.
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly. There are no bridge delays. But it is busy in town when the ferry arrives and there are folks soon be out leaf peeping. So, let’s be careful out there.
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On this date in 1946, Detroit gets its first look at the rookie who becomes known as “Mr. Hockey” as eighteen-year-old Canadian Gordie Howe makes his Detroit Red Wings debut at Olympia Stadium—and scores his first N-H-L goal. It’s the beginning of a career that spans thirty-two seasons in the N-H-L and World Hockey Association. This year in July, a new international bridge named in his honor opens between Detroit and Windsor, Canada.
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Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is zenith [ZEE-nith], a noun meaning the highest point or the period of greatest success. You might say an athlete reaches the zenith of a career by winning a championship. The word traces back to an Arabic expression meaning the way overhead. English speakers first use it in the thirteen hundreds for the point in the sky directly above an observer. By the sixteen hundreds, it also describes other peaks, including the height of fame or achievement.
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday…perhaps the zenith of our news…because we are wrapping up…
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Here’s a thought for the day from Gordie Howe: “You can always get someone to do your thinking for you.”
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And on a lighter note…
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, October 16th, 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.
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WEATHER
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[Current Condition Report, then…]
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Today
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Air Quality Index this morning was 0.
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Fire Danger: Moderate
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Out on the Big Drink…
Photo from the North Lake Michigan Buoy. Provided by the National Data Buoy Center
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Today – Gale Warning starts 11:00 a.m.
N wind 20 to 30 kt, with gusts as high as 35 kt. Showers, mainly before 1pm. A slight chance of waterspouts between 1pm and 3pm. Waves 3 ft building to 7 ft.
Tonight – Gale Warning to 1:00 a.m.
N wind 20 to 25 kt decreasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 kt. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy. Waves 6 ft subsiding to 1 ft.
Saturday
WNW wind 10 to 15 kt becoming WSW 20 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft building to 6 ft.
Saturday Night
WSW wind 25 to 30 kt. Clear. Waves 6 ft building to 9 ft.
Sunday
SW wind 25 to 30 kt, with gusts as high as 40 kt. Sunny. Waves around 9 ft.
Sunday Night
SW wind 20 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 35 kt. Mostly clear. Waves 5 to 7 ft.
Monday
WSW wind 10 to 15 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 2 to 4 ft.
Monday Night
WSW wind 5 to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 ft or less.
Tuesday
Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
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Water Temps: 60 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 54 in the Straits. Others not reporting.
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Claims from Michigan’s final governor debate get a fact-check. A Google data center clears another hurdle, and the A-C-L-U challenges Traverse City’s proposed prowling rules. Plus, a voter registration deadline and Island Halloween plans.
Those stories along with more local and state news, a run down of local events, birthdays, this date in history, a thought for the day and yet another even worse pumpkin joke are up after this global and national news from F-S-N…
[Time check.]
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Today’s featured image: The hallways at BICS will be haunted next Friday after school well into the evening. You can help make it fun for the kids with a donation of candy, snacks, treats and/or drinks. Drop those off in the school office during school hours. Graphic from BICS Student Council
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