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Our fellow GLIA Island Neebish up in the St. Marys River is stuck with limited ferry service after their boat lost a rudder while operating in dense fog Tuesday. The Coast Guard is allowing restricted morning and evening runs for about two weeks, when repairs are expected to be completed. Until then, trips will carry no more than eight passenger vehicles, with no trailers or heavy loads, and the trips will depend on daylight, good visibility and winds within safety limits.
Damage to the ferry is limiting access to Neebish Island. Trips are curtailed until the damage is repaired. File photo from Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority
Now, we continue our look at candidates for the November third election: Republican State Senator John Damoose faces Democrat Kate Gallup in Northern Michigan’s thirty-seventh District, which includes Beaver Island. Gallup supports restrictions on political donations from utilities and major state contractors. Damoose argues the proposal leaves union and dark-money spending untouched. Gallup calls for higher school funding and health coverage for all Michigan residents. Damoose emphasizes stronger education standards and questions the state’s role in universal coverage. They also split on Line Five: Damoose supports the proposed Straits tunnel, while Gallup favors shutting down the pipeline and pursuing alternatives.
#Election2026
In other election news, M-Live reports today that fabricated polls that reached major election websites—may have helped drive a Michigan candidate from the U-S Senate race. MLive reports Wedgewood Polls admits inventing surveys, calling it an experiment exposing weak oversight. Mallory McMorrow says its false numbers helped dry up donations and pushed her toward leaving the Democratic U-S Senate primary. Analysts say the impact is hard to establish. The New York Times has removed fifteen Wedgewood polls.
#Election2026
In Lansing, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants regulators to reject Consumers Energy’s sale of thirteen hydroelectric dams, including Hodenpyl and Tippy on the Manistee River. I-P-R reports negotiations stalled over cost and safety concerns. Nessel fears taxpayers could face future liabilities. Consumers says selling to Confluence Hydro is the cheapest option for ratepayers.
#Energy #Environment
Here’s your planner for Halloween festivities: They start today with a C-O-A lunch planned at Peaine Township Hall starting at 11:30 (assuming it isn’t fogged out). Next Friday at School, at 8:15 in the morning there’s the annual Halloween Costume parade for the grade school kids. Kids should come in with costumes on and parents should plan to take the costumes home after. Remember: no toy weapons. Then Friday after school, the Student Council has planned a Haunted Hallway from 6:00 to 7:00 for all students. There’s 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 will be available for $3. They need candy for the haunt. You can donate that during school hours at the front desk. On Saturday, Halloween itself, the library has a party planned from 3:00 to 5:00 p-m on with spooky snacks, fun games and prizes. All are welcome. There’s Trunk or Treat at the GFC from 5:00 to 6:30. 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.
#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
Finally, a reminder about the Friends of Beaver Island AmVets and their Wreaths Across America campaign, which places wreaths on the graves of vets for the holidays. Seventeen dollars will covers one wreath or thirty-four gets three. Make checks payable to W-A-A and mail to Box Eight, Beaver Island, to arrive before Thanksgiving, or donate online. Go to donate dot wreaths across America dot org and use the map to locate the Island. There’s a link in today’s script online.
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Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…
First, your meeting planner for the rest of the week and next week…
Saturday
Locations and more details for meetings 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. Chair Strength Training starts at 10:30 in the BIC Center Hangout. C-O-A has their Halloween Lunch starting at 11:30. R-S-V-P at 21-24 or by email to B-I Meals at Charlevoix County dot org. It’s also their single on-Island services day, with representatives at the township hall to help with services and senior meal vouchers.
Apex Insurance Services had planned Medicare enrollment appointments on the Island today, but they’ve been rescheduled to November 5th and 6th due to the fog. Call 888-858-2739 to schedule.
[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 seventies. 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, October 24
[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 eighties and nineties 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, October 25
Looking ahead to highlights for next week…
Monday, October 26
Tuesday, October 27
Wednesday, October 28
Thursday, October 29
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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 Bill. 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 Wiser. 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 save for possible delays south of Bill Wagner Campground on East Side Drive. There are no bridge delays, but look out for leaf peeping delays. Let’s be careful out there. Especially in the school zone.
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On this date in 1926, Michigan-born minister and women’s rights
pioneer Olympia Brown dies at 91. Born in Kalamazoo County, Brown breaks barriers in the pulpit and spends decades campaigning for women’s right to vote. In 1920, at age 85, she casts her first presidential ballot. Today marks 100 years since her death.
Before her death on this day in 1926, Olympia Brown was one of Michigan’s earliest supporters of women’s right to vote. Born in Kalamazoo County and a student at Schoolcraft Academy, she left Michigan for college and her career as a pastor. By 1886, as a result of her persistent work on behalf of women’s suffrage, a law was approved allowing women to vote in school elections. She then resigned her ministry to devote all of her time to women’s rights. Photo from Michigan Women Forward’s Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
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Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is asunder [uh-SUN-der], meaning apart or into separate pieces. Something can be physically torn asunder, or a disagreement can tear a friendship asunder. The word traces back to an Old English word meaning apart and has been used in English since the 14th century. For example: “The puppy tore the newspaper asunder before anyone could read the weather forecast.”
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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 women’s suffrage champion Olympia Brown: “Success is not measured by the number of accolades we receive, but by the impact we have on others.”
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And on a lighter note…
By pumpkin iron.
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, October 23rd, 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-Dense Fog Advisory through Noon
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Air Quality Index this morning is up from 42 yesterday to 52.
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Fire Danger: Low
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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
S wind 5 to 10 kt. Patchy dense fog before 10am and patchy fog tonight. Waves 1 ft or less.
Saturday
S wind 10 to 15 kt. Patchy fog before 7am. Waves around 1 ft.
Sunday
SSW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 ft.
Monday
N wind around 10 kt. Mostly cloudy. Waves around 1 ft.
Tuesday
E wind around 10 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.
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Water Temps: 57 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 55 in the Straits. 46 at Sleeping Bear. Little Traverse Bay 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…
Neebish Island faces limited ferry service after rudder damage to their boat. Damoose and Gallup differ on schools, health care and Line Five. And fabricated polls raise questions about Michigan’s Senate primary. Plus, a disputed dam sale and your Island Halloween planner. Details in the Community Calendar Report at nine, noon, three and six on W-V-B-I.
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 Mackinac Bridge seems to have gone into hiding, perhaps hanging out with the Queen of Hearts at the Elks Lodge. Photo from mackinacbridge.org
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