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As waters recede from last week’s historic flooding across northern Michigan, experts and local leaders are warning more action is needed on aging dams. More than half of the state’s 2,500 dams are past their 50-year design life, with an estimated $1 billion needed for upgrades or removals. Recent flooding is being called a wake-up call, especially as climate change brings more extreme weather. Some projects—like dam removals in Traverse City—helped reduce damage, but officials say stronger safety rules and more funding will be key to preventing future disasters.
Meanwhile, the legal fight over the Edenville dam failure isn’t over. A law firm representing about 2,000 property owners says it will appeal after a judge ruled the state isn’t liable because the dam was privately owned. Attorney Ven Johnson says the case will now head to the Michigan Supreme Court, calling the decision a troubling precedent. State officials maintain they weren’t responsible, but say they’re working to strengthen dam safety and prevent future disasters.
Voters in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay region head to the polls Tuesday in a high-stakes special election that could shift control of the state Senate. The seat has been vacant for nearly 500 days, and a Republican win would create a 19–19 tie, potentially slowing action in Lansing. Democrats are backing Saginaw firefighter Chedrick Greene, while Republicans support attorney Jason Tunney. The outcome could shape the legislative agenda heading into a critical election year.
Got household hazardous waste piling up? Now’s the time to clear it out safely. Items like drain cleaners, paint, antifreeze, solvents, and even some personal care products can be dropped off at the Transfer Station today and tomorrow. Most items are accepted at no charge—latex paint is $13 per gallon. Hours are 8 to 5 both days. For details, call 2228.
And, in our winter isn’t over just yet department, freeze warnings and frost advisories continue across northwest Lower Michigan including the Island, with the coldest temps expected Friday night into Saturday morning. Inland areas could drop into the low 20s, bringing a hard freeze. Daytime highs will stay in the 40s through Saturday, with a brief warm-up into Sunday before cooler weather returns next week.
Temperatures will again drop below freezing across a vast majority of northern Michigan tonight with overnight lows in the middle 20s to low 30s. Expect more sub-freezing conditions Saturday night. Graphic from NWS Gaylord Office
The forecast notwithstanding, the Keweenaw Peninsula’s visitors office has called an official end to the season, at least for tallying up snowfall. They recorded 360.3 inches of snow, the most in 20 years, but not breaking the record set in 1978-79 of 390.4 inches. |
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Now here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets Saturday at 6:00. Next week Peaine Township Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 5:00. B-I-C-S Committee of the Whole meets Wednesday at 5:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and next Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
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. The Elks Lodge will be open to all this Saturday for a Derby Day celebration. There’ll be brats & dogs on the grill. Wear your Derby Hat. The Queen of Hearts draw will be at 7:00. 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.
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday kicks off a new series of Monday Funday programs start at the BIC Center. There’ll be afterschool crafting at 3:30, and an artist’s workshop at 5:00. This week the workshop will be on Fairy Doors and Seed Sharing led by Christine McKenna and Monica Longlett. After fun at the BIC Center, head over to the Shamrock where Monday’s are All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night.
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.
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at 1:00 at the BIC Center. And at 5:00 it’s Time for Art, at the BIC Center. In our Dark Skies, the annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be flying. There’s more info at Dark Sky Island dot org.
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 Tacos, Tamales, Rice, Beans 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.] |
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Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Ryan. If that’s your name, come on it to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice. |
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On our Birthday List today: Krys Lyle, Susan Myers, Rachel Teague, Ruby Antinori and Jason Selby are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Ruby, Rachel, Susan, Krys and Jason, 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. Still, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1961, just weeks after Cuban forces repelled the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion, Fidel Castro formally declared Cuba a socialist nation—and made clear there would be no elections, saying “[t]he revolution has no time for elections.” Also on this day in 1945, as the Soviets take the city and prepare to raise their flag over the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, the German people are informed that “our leader, Adolf Hitler, has fallen for Germany, fighting to his last breath against Bolshevism.” In fact, Hitler had committed suicide.
Soviet soldier raises the Russian flag over the Reichstag on May 2, 1945.Although the photo was staged, it became an iconic symbol of Germany’s defeat. Photo by Yevgeny Khaldei from TAAS via Wikimedia |
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Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is Beltane (noun) [BEL-tayn], a Celtic May Day festival marking the start of summer, falling about halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. For the ancient Celts, it was a time when the boundary between the human and supernatural worlds was believed to thin, and people took steps to protect themselves from enchantment. Traditions included driving cattle between twin bonfires for protection from disease. The word dates back to at least the 15th century in English, with earlier roots in Ireland—appearing in a glossary attributed to Cormac, an Irish king and bishop from around the 9th century. |
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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 Cormac Mac Airt: “I was a listener in woods, I was a gazer at stars.” |
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On a lighter note: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, May 1, 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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Today A chance of snow showers and sleet before 1pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 1pm and 3pm, then a chance of rain showers after 3pm. Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 42/44. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight-Freeze Watch Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 32/31. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 42/48. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 46/50. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Monday A 50 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49/53. Monday Night A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Breezy. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 44/47. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 45/48. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46/49. |
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Town: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.52&lat=45.748 |
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Out on the Big Drink … |
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Today NNW wind around 10 kt. A slight chance of showers between 3pm and 4pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday NW wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Sunday SSW wind 10 to 15 kt. A slight chance of showers after 1pm. Waves 1 to 2 ft. Monday SSW wind 15 to 20 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt. A chance of showers after 1pm. Waves 1 ft building to 4 ft. Tuesday W wind around 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves around 1 ft. |
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Midway to Charlevoix: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.384&lat=45.532 |
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Air Quality Index at 7:00 this morning was 0. |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
Northern Michigan’s flooding is raising new concerns about aging dams, with calls for upgrades and stronger safety rules. Meantime, a dam failure case from severl years ago is headed for appeal. We’ve got details. Also, a key state Senate race Tuesday could shift power in Lansing. And, hazardous waste drop-off is this weekend—plus freeze warnings continue tonight.
…those stories plus school news, 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.] |
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Today’s Featured Image: It’s going to be another nippy night on the Island and all around us with a freeze warning in effect. Graphic from NWS Gaylord Office |
