Election day is next Tuesday with voters going to the polls to pick party nominees and decide some millage proposals. There are no contested township offices in either Peaine or St. James Township, so no township primary races will be decided. Instead, Island voters will cast ballots in the statewide primary for governor, U.S. Senate, […]

Michigan’s record outbreak of cyclosporiasis continues to grow, with reported cases jumping nearly 78 percent over the past week to more than 7,600. While six northern Michigan counties have now reported their first cases, the vast majority of illnesses remain concentrated downstate. Wayne County leads with more than 1,200 cases, followed by Washtenaw, Oakland and […]

From Lansing, a bipartisan effort to encourage construction of smaller apartment buildings is now law in Michigan. Our rep Parker Fairbairn sponsored one of two House bills in the package, while Democratic Representative Stephen Wooden sponsored the companion measure. The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support, including a yes vote from State Senator John Damoose. […]

The Island had an almost complete reprieve from the smoke yesterday with the AQI dropping to the high range of normal levels shortly after noon. But the smoke crept back in as the afternoon and evening progressed.  This morning the AQI was back up to unhealthy levels on the Island and across the region. The […]

After hitting record levels across the state yesterday with a reading of 596 on the Island, the smoke started to clear yesterday afternoon with the sun eventually poking through. This morning the Air Quality Index stands at 152 on the Island, but it is well into the danger zone of the mainland with a reading […]

After generating a spectacular sunset Tuesday evening, smoke from Canada has turned thick and all but blanked out the Sun yesterday. Forecasts from Canadian authorities show little relief in sight until sometime Saturday afternoon, but experts say that could change. Most of the smoke is coming from a line of wildfires northwest of the westerner […]

After a spectacular smoke enhanced sunset last evening, the Island woke up this morning under a thick smoke haze. Some meteorologists are saying it’s the worst smoke event they’ve ever seen. W-V-B-I’s air quality sensor is reporting one of the worst air quality index readings ever at 170, and if the models we are seeing […]

State Representative Parker Fairbairn was on the Island yesterday for a townhall meeting at the St. James Township Hall. The session was well attended with Gull Harbor Drive coming up. He said he is continuing to correspond with EGLE about the issue, which concerns use of the road, which runs across Lake Michigan bottom-ground in […]

Community Calendar Report for Monday, July 13th, 2026. Photo by Greg Doig First some news…   Beaver Island’s ties to Ireland will be on display overseas Tuesday, as the world’s largest Spanish galleon replica sails into Donegal Bay, Ireland—the bay for which our own Donegal Bay is named. The visit comes nearly 180 years after famine-era […]