The latest news from WVBI
First some news… Michigan House Bill 4471 aims to address staffing shortages in sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices by allowing retirees to return to work without forfeiting their pensions. The bill, which removes the 1,000-hour limit for retirees in 13 counties, could benefit those counties but may impact smaller agencies that currently hire retirees for full-time […]
Community Calendar Report for Tuesday, March 24th, 2026. First some news… Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer convened a roundtable with lawmakers and stakeholders to address the state’s housing crisis. The main focus was on increasing housing supply by streamlining regulations and addressing affordability issues, as housing costs have outpaced income growth. Bipartisan bills are being […]
Community Calendar Report for Monday, March 23rd, 2026. First some news… The Little Traverse Conservancy and TOMMBA (Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association) are raising $300,000 to protect 36 acres of hardwood forest near the Boyne Forest Trails. The funds will also be used for trail extension and equipment. Be cautious in areas impacted […]
Community Calendar Report for Friday, March 20th, 2026.-I First some news… Michigan awarded over $1 million in history grants to 45 communities for projects tied to the U.S. semiquincentennial. The Charlevoix Historical Society recently received an award of $28,760 for an exhibit on the impact of the railroad on Charlevoix. The BI Historical Society […]
Community Calendar Report for Thursday, March 19th, 2026. The Vincent Massey locking through the Poe lock yesterday. Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District First some news… Ron Marsh reports that all County Roads were cleared of snow from what he has dubbed the Great Blizzard of ’26 as of 10 Tuesday […]
A look at East Side Drive yesterday afternoon north of Hannigan Road (photo by Greg Doig) First some news… A blizzard dropped two feet of snow across Northern Michigan, with the heaviest snowfall north of M-32. Wind gusts reached 54 mph, causing significant snow drifts and comparisons to the 1978 blizzard. Governor Whitmer declared […]
First some news… Freezing rain, heavy snowfall, and strong winds caused widespread power outages for 140,000 Consumers Energy customers in northern Michigan. Crews are working around the clock to restore power. Yesterday Great Lakes Energy had reported 139 outages impacting 5,265 customers on the mainland. A snowmobiler stranded on ice near Mackinac Island on Sunday, […]
Community Calendar Report for Monday, March 16th, 2026. Saturday March 14, 2026 St. Patrick’s Day activity. (photo by Greg Doig) First some news… A major winter storm is still impacting Beaver Island through March 16, 2026 and into tomorrow morning, with heavy snow, strong winds, and blizzard conditions. Travel is dangerous due to blowing snow […]
Community Calendar Report for Thursday, March 12th, 2026. First some news… Stryker Corp. based in Portage, Michigan and has offices around this country and the world, is experiencing a severe, global disruption to their Microsoft environment due to a cyberattack. The disruption is impacting all Stryker laptops and systems connected to their network, but […]
Community Calendar Report for Monday, March 9th, 2026. First some news… Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties to aid recovery efforts following a deadly tornado outbreak this past Friday. The state is providing resources and support to affected communities. Antrim County’s new public safety center […]