Here’s a summary of a story from the UpNorth News website. (upnorthlive.com)
In Wexford County, Michigan, residents are facing significant financial challenges due to a cyber-attack that has crippled the Register of Deeds Office. The attack, which occurred over two months ago, has left the office offline, causing delays in property transactions and title searches.
The cyber-attack has had a domino effect on the local real estate market. Homeowners like Pamela Duff are struggling to sell their properties. Duff, who is trying to sell land in Buckley, says the delay in title searches is costing her and potential buyers thousands of dollars.
Jason Ball, another resident, is unable to prove ownership of his land to secure a loan for building a new home. The delays have pushed his construction plans back by several months.
The financial impact extends beyond homeowners. Some families are living in hotels, waiting to move into their new homes. The county is working to restore services, but the backlog of title searches continues to grow.
The Wexford County Deeds Office is still working to recover from the cyber-attack, and residents are hopeful for a resolution soon. For now, the financial strain continues to affect many in the community.
Here are some recent stats about one of the most used methods of cyber attacks.
Increase in Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks nearly tripled in 2024 compared to 2023, with more than 8 out of every 1,000 users clicking on malicious links
PhishWP Plugin Threat: A new WordPress plugin, PhishWP (created by malicious actors), creates fake payment pages and sends stolen data to attackers via Telegram.
Spoofed Domains: Attackers use neglected internet domains to evade security mechanisms, making emails appear legitimate
Consumer Advice: Users are advised not to click on unsolicited links and to verify the authenticity of emails before interacting with them.
Also on the Island, with Wicked finally released for local display, a screening of it has been set for the last Saturday of the month. That will be the 25th at 7:00 as part of a special event at the BIC Center: One Short Day in the Emerald City that will include the screening of the original Wizard of Oz at 4:00 along with special events making for an afternoon and evening of festivating and rejoicifying at the BIC Center. More details to come, but mark your calendar now for this special Emerald City Day on the Emerald Isle.
BIC Center graphic by Kayleigh Gregg
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner for the week.
A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. The Board of the nonprofit Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group, which produces the Emerald Isle Irish Féile, meets Saturday, 9:30 AM in the BIC Center Hangout to address current agenda items. That’s it on the meeting front. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online for all meetings.
On the fun front today…
Friday, Senior and Vets Coffee and Donuts is at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is from 10:00 to noon in the theater at the BIC Center. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is on at 10:30 in the Hangout. Friday evening there’s basketball at school as the Islander squads take on Ojibwe. Games start at 5:30. [On the radio, you’ll hear our fantastic Friday evening lineup of shows to kick off the weekend. Right after the news at 6:00 there’s That Thing with Rich Appel, that top-down top forty sound from the 70s that so much fun. He’s followed at 9:00 by Titus Jennings with the Titus Jennings experience and lots of fine music from all genres and then is music and farce comedy and escape with Marilyn Rea Beyer and the Midnight special starting at 11:00.]
On Saturday, there’s more basketball at school in the morning. The Fiero Coding Club is at the Library at 2:00 and it’s Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock. Saturday’s movie at the BIC Center is Maria staring Angelina Jolie. It’s the story of Maria Callas, the world’s greatest opera singer that’s won lots of critical acclaim and audience praise. Showtime is 6:00 P-M Saturday evening.
[On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, Jackson Smith and Steve Girbach are in with Songs from the Trail. 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.]
On Sunday, there are services at the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass at Holy Cross is at 12:15.
Looking ahead to next week…
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Viv and Saturday it is Wayne. If that’s your name, head on down to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice courtesy of your friends at the BIC Center and W-V-B-I …
BIRTHDAYS Kelton Hunter and Anna Posthumus. Saturday Erin Boyle, happy birthday to Kelton and Anna and Erin, but if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you from all of us at W-V-B-I and your Beaver Island Community Center.
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TRAFFIC: No delays, but let’s be careful out there.
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On this day in 1901, a drilling derrick at Spindletop Hill near Beaumont, Texas, produces an enormous gusher of crude oil, coating the landscape for hundreds of feet and signaling the advent of the American oil industry.
The geyser was discovered at a depth of over 1,000 feet, flowed at an initial rate of approximately 100,000 barrels a day and took nine days to cap. Following the discovery, petroleum, which until that time had been used in the U.S. primarily as a lubricant and in kerosene for lamps, would become the main fuel source for new inventions such as cars and airplanes; coal-powered forms of transportation including ships and trains would also convert to the liquid fuel.
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day
Untenable Something, such as a position, excuse, or situation, that is described as untenable cannot be defended against attack or criticism. // The scientists considered their colleague’s theory to be bold but ultimately untenable.
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday…
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Here’s a thought for the day from Roy T Bennett – “Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.”
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On a lighter note… A policeman friend of mine once received a call that there was a naked man dancing in the street. he told the dispatcher all right. I’ll take a ride by, but I’m really not much of a dancer.
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar for this Beaver Island Friday, January 10th, 2025. I’m Greg Doig reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening.
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Friday
Snow likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 30. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 21. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday
Snow showers. High near 30. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night
Snow showers likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 28.
Monday Night
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 14.
Tuesday
A chance of snow showers before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 22.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28.
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