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The bone chilling cold is building ice out on the lake. And that trapped the lake freighter Algoma Intrepid Saturday afternoon off Garden Island. The Coast Guard cutter Mackinac came to her rescue later in the day. The operation was one of many conducted over the last week of cold temps as the freighters work to get home for the end of the season after the closure of the Soo Locks, or in some cases continue work on the lower lakes as the Coast Guard works to keep those shipping channels open.
The Coast Guard’s USCGC Mackinac begins work to free the ice bound Algoma Intrepid off Garden Island this weekend. Screen capture from USCG Facebook post
And the deep freeze this week is forecast to continue this week. Wind chills could drop as low as 30 below zero, making frostbite possible on exposed skin in just 10 minutes. The National Weather Service says dangerous wind chills will persist through Tuesday, with lake-effect snow continuing downwind of Lakes Michigan and Superior. They say to bundle up if you’re heading out, bring pets indoors, and keep a close eye on children and the elderly as the frigid pattern holds through the week.
In contrast to that forecast, a new scientific report says the Great Lakes region is warming faster than expected. The 2025 update, released by the Environmental Law Policy Center and authored by more than a dozen U.S. and Canadian scientists, confirms and expands on findings first reported in 2019. Since 1951, average temperatures in the region have risen nearly three degrees, with more than a full degree of that increase occurring just since 2019. Researchers warn the warming is reducing winter ice cover, fueling harmful algae blooms, threatening fish like whitefish, spreading ticks, and increasing damage from storms—showing the Great Lakes region will not escape the impacts of climate change. There’s a link to the report in today’s script online.
A graph showing the change in temperatures in the Great Lakes States. Graphic from Environmental Law Policy Center
National Guard troops begin training today in some of the toughest winter conditions Northern Michigan can throw at them. The Michigan National Guard’s Northern Strike 26-1 exercise runs today through Wednesday at Camp Grayling and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. Units from the Army and Air National Guard, the Army Reserve, and active-duty Army will train in wind, snow, and single-digit temperatures, focusing on cold-weather operations, stressed communications, and multi-domain coordination. Officials say the exercise helps prepare forces for real-world missions in extreme environments.
Housing, education, and the role of state government took center stage as six candidates for Michigan governor appeared Friday at the Northern Michigan Policy Conference in Acme. Candidates from both parties — and one independent — repeatedly pointed to affordable housing shortages, workforce and education challenges, and how state policy can better serve northern Michigan. Voters will get their first chance to weigh in during the gubernatorial primary on August 4th, 2026, with the general election set for November.
The team working to bring another edition of Beaver Tales to the BIC Center stage had a great meeting on Saturday and has another planned for February 7th. They say the have a lot of stories just waiting for someone to tell, plus songs. They say the show will need minimal rehearsals (just a couple), and that you don’t have to be an actor as you are just telling stories or singing a song. Contact the library for more info on being part of the next Beaver Tales, which is expected to be on stage in April.
A reminder that the Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group kicks off its annual Calling of the Clans on February 1st. The fundraiser invites families, friends, and community groups to form a clan and support Irish heritage on the Island. Clans donating over a thousand dollars will have their crest displayed during the Irish Féile in September. |
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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 at the Christian Church.
On the fun front today…
Monday, it’s All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock. The library has a visit with the author of the NEA BIG READ book The Bear set for 7:00 p.m. Monday evening. You can come to the library or join from home. The author, Andrew Krivak, will read some of his book before answering any questions. There’s a link to the Zoom in today’s script online. us06web.zoom.us/j/89613617689?p … qe4Enmx8.1
Tuesday kicks of fwith home basketball games as the Islanders take on Munising Baptist with an 8:30 tip-off. 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 6:00, put your thinking cap on and come out for trivia. Let’s Get Quizzical is back for a second January round. Sign your team up at tickets dot bic center dot org.
Looking ahead to highlights for the rest of the week…
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at the BIC Center at 1:00. At 5:00 it’s Time for Art, also at the BIC Cener. That’ll be the first of three sessions on making Madi Gras masks lead by Cindy Ricksgers. In our dark skies, the moon will reach perigee for the second time this month. That’s its closest point to us in its elliptical orbit around Earth. At 9:00 this evening it’ll be 227,341 miles (365,871 km) away…just waiting for the first human mission to the moon to launch in February.
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.
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 Islanders basketball squads begin a home stand against Hannahville. First tip off is at 5:30. There’ll be games Saturday morning, too, starting at 8:30.
[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. At noon, St. Brigid’s Day events get underway at the BIC Center. It’s a celebration of Irish heritage with special food, crafts, informative presentations and more. At 6:00, there’ll be a community selected movie showing un the Theater. 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 Leona. 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: Suzi Dixon-Myers, Brendan Martin, Sandy LoDico, Lisa Moyers and Olivia Schwartzfisher. Happy Birthday to Olivia, Lisa, Sandy, Suzi and Brendan, 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 1837, more than a year after Michigan adopted its first constitution and elected its first governor, President Andrew Jackson signed the bill making Michigan the nation’s 26th state. The delay was caused by a disagreement and subsequent “war” over the port-town Toledo. The compromise that gave Michigan the western two thirds of the Upper Peninsula shaped Michigan’s future of copper and iron riches, as well as timber and other natural resources. Also on this date in 1950, after thousands of years of monarchy, centuries of British rule, and much religious and social strife leading up to it, India adopts a constitution and becomes the world’s most populous democracy.
Michigan’s first state flag included the United States coat of arms on one side and the image above on the other. The Latin translates to “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” Image from Wikimedia Commons |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is oaf (noun) [OHF]. An oaf is someone seen as big, clumsy, or slow-witted. The word has a curious origin: in medieval England, people believed elves sometimes swapped human babies with changelings. Those children were called auf or alfe — meaning an elf’s child. Over time, that word evolved into oaf. Today, it has nothing to do with folklore, and simply describes someone who comes off as especially graceless or unintelligent.
Some people say this guy is an example of an oaf. Photo by bystander |
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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 inventor General Douglas MacArthur who was born on this day in 1880: “The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.” |
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On a lighter note… What time did the man go to the dentist? Tooth hurt-y! |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, January 26th, 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 Partly sunny, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -8. Northwest wind around 15 mph. Tonight Snow showers likely, mainly between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 11. Wind chill values as low as -11. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Tuesday A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -9. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -9. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 12. West wind around 15 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around -4. Thursday Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 7. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around -1. Friday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 19. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 13. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. |
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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…
Bone-chilling cold is locking up the lakes — and trapping ships in the ice that as wind chill forecasts for the region plunge toward 30 below. We have some details plus a look at a new report warning the Great Lakes are warming faster than expected, National Guard troops training in extreme winter conditions, and what six candidates for governor told northern Michigan voters.
…all of that along with a run-down of local e vents, birthdays and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.] |
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Today’s featured image: The Coast Guard’s USCGC Mackinac begins work to free the ice bound Algoma Intrepid off Garden Island this weekend. Screen capture from USCG Facebook post |
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