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It’s yet another gnarly weather day, especially on the mainland. Snow is blowing on the Island this morning and accumulating on the mainland with up to six inches in the forecast for our nearshore neighbors. And it will come down fast at 1 to 2 inches per hour. Probably not a lot of flying today. Difficult travel is expected on the mainland (if you can get there). NWS Graphic from Gaylord office
Meantime, bitter cold is headed our way for the end of the week and the weekend. So the ice underneath all the snow won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
Windchills coming for the weekend will make it dangerous to be outside unprepared. NWS Graphic from Gaylord office
Michigan lawmakers will have more than one billion dollars less to work with as they build the next two state budgets. That’s according to new revenue projections released Friday. Officials say tax law changes and a major road funding package are driving the drop. While school aid revenues are expected to grow, the state’s general fund is shrinking, setting up difficult spending decisions ahead.
And in a related budget fight, a state judge has ordered millions of dollars in disputed state spending put on hold. Michael Gadola ruled Friday that unspent funds must be frozen while a lawsuit between the Republican-led House and Gretchen Whitmer‘s administration plays out over who has authority to extend the money. The case could have major implications for how Michigan budgets are managed.
Nineteen Michigan airports will share nine million dollars in state grants to address PFAS contamination. In Northern Michigan, Pellston Regional Airport and Cherry Capital Airport will each receive one million dollars to support testing, cleanup planning, and equipment replacement linked to firefighting foam contamination, according to state officials.
Starting March first, Michigan hunters will have the option to use electronic kill tags instead of paper ones. The Natural Resources Commission approved digital tags for several species, including deer, bear, and bobcat, using the Hunt Fish mobile app. State officials say the change will save money, reduce lost tags, and make it easier for hunters to buy and track licenses online. There’s a link to a detailed rundown on how the new system will work in today’s script online.
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation is asking residents to help shape the future of local news by working with a new group called Press Forward Northern Michigan. The nonpartisan group is conducting a short, 10-minute survey to learn how people stay informed and what’s missing in their communities. If you’d like to share your perspective and support fact-based local journalism, you can take the survey online. We hope you’ll mention W-V-B-I’s Community Calendar Report so we can show the 3CF the value of supporting our volunteer work. We’ve posted the survey link in today’s script. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
Waste Management Committee meets Tuesday at 1:30. Peaine Township Board meets that evening at 5:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Locations and more details are in the calendar entries online.
On the fun front today…
Monday, it’s All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock.
Tuesday, Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. At the BIC Center, there’s Pickleball at 10:00 in the Theater and Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at 10:30.
Wednesday, the Islander basketball squads head off to take on Ojibwe for morning make-up games. There’s BINGO at the BIC Center at 1:00. The BOBI book club meets at the library at 3:00 to discuss Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. At 5:00 it’s Time for Art, also at the BIC Cener. This week, it’s time to make Valentines Day Cards in a session lead by Leila Freijy. There are limited seats, so check with the front desk to see if there is room.
Thursday Women’s Bible Study is on at 10:00 at the Christian Church. There’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00. That’s in the theater. At 10:30 up in the Hangout there’s Chair Strength Training. Thursday evening, 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. In our Dark Skies, the waxing crescent moon will pay a visit to the steady golden light of Saturn this evening and again tomorrow evening. They’ll set before midnight. There’s more info at dark sky island dot org.
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. Basketball action will take the Islanders to Big Bay for games Friday evening and Saturday morning. On the Island, it’s an open mic and karaoke night in the theater at the BIC Center with your host and frontman Herb Ledbetter. The stage light sup at 6:00. Call the Front Desk to Signup or just show up and jump in.
[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.]
Also Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00. There are two movies at the BIC Center Saturday as part of the library’s Big Read Project on Survival. At 3:00 at the library there’s a planning session set for the next Beaver Tales show. This time the theme is Surviving on the Islande as part of the library’s Big Read Project. They are targeting a show date in April. Meantime, over at the BIC Center, it’s a Wicked Double Trouble Double Feature. See Wicked at 3:00 and Wicked for Good at 6:00 with some special treats at the concession stand. Wands are optional. Both shows rated PG. 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, 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.]
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…
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NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Becca. If that’s your name, come into the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice.
BIRTHDAYS: On our Birthday list today: Janet Nank, Patrick McGinnity, Pam Grassmick and Steve Scott. Happy Birthday to Olivia, and if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center. |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly and there are no bridge delays. But, hey, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1868, Bishop Frederic Baraga dies after a lifetime of missionary work across the Great Lakes. Known as the Snowshoe Priest, Baraga travels by canoe, horse, and snowshoe to serve Native communities and immigrant laborers from the Soo to Grand Rapids and across the Upper Peninsula. His journeys include stops on Beaver Island, where he lands near what was then called Pagetown to establish a church on the Island. Baraga’s tireless travels help shape early Catholic missions throughout Michigan. Baraga’s Cross on the north end marks the approximate location where Bishop Baraga first landed on Beaver Island. Image from Grand Valley State University Lemmen Library & Archives |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is ephemeral (adjective) [ih-FEM-uh-rul]. Ephemeral describes something that lasts only a very short time. The word comes from Greek, meaning “lasting a day,” and is often linked to mayflies, whose adult lives can last just hours. Today, ephemeral describes anything fleeting or short-lived, from moments to pleasures. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Bishop Baraga: “Do not act wickedly, for the Lord sees you.” |
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On a lighter note… What do you call a snapshot from the North Pole? A polaroid. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, January 19th, 2026. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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M.L.King Day Snow showers likely, mainly between 7am and 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 11 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -9. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 30 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -16. Breezy, with a west wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 14. Wind chill values as low as -17. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -8. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wednesday A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday Night A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Breezy. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 15. Breezy. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around -2. Breezy. Friday Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 4. Blustery. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around -4. Saturday Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 7. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 12. |
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Air Quality Index this morning was 0. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
…all of that along with a run-down of local events, birthdays and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: Difficult travel is expected on the mainland (if you can get there). NWS Graphic from Gaylord office |
