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The City of Petoskey has issued a public statement clarifying its role in any potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity — even though officials say there’s been no known ICE enforcement action within city limits. City leaders say the letter is meant to address resident concerns and growing national anxiety, emphasizing that Petoskey police do not assist with immigration enforcement and have no formal partnership with ICE. Several residents praised the move, while others urged the city to go further with a formal resolution.
In Lansing, Michigan Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that would block minors from accessing AI-powered chatbots, while tightening data privacy rules and requiring parental consent for full social media access. Sponsors say the plan puts kids over clicks and targets addictive tech practices. Civil liberties groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, warn the proposal could raise free-speech and privacy concerns as it moves through the Legislature.
Just released data shows that Cherry Capital Airport had another record-breaking year in 2025, serving nearly 936,000 passengers — up 19 percent from the previous year. Airport officials say the growth reflects strong demand for northern Michigan travel and expect momentum to continue into 2026. Major upgrades are already underway, including parking expansion and a planned terminal project adding five new gates later this decade.
Rendering of gate additions planned for TVC. Image from Cherry Capital Airport
The Northern Lights put on a display for our sister Island the night before last. Local photographer Pat Cook caught some great images of the display. There’s one of them in today’s script plus a link to see more.
Arranmore Auroa from January 20th. Photo by Pat Cook
A longtime northern Michigan tradition returns February 6th and 7th with the Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree in Cheboygan County. The festival marks the opening of the state’s lake sturgeon fishing season and raises funds for Sturgeon for Tomorrow. Lake sturgeon are among the oldest fish species on Earth, dating back more than 130 million years. First held in 1962, the shivaree features fishing contests, kids’ activities, live entertainment, and conservation education. There’s a link to more info on the festival in today’s script online. https://www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org/shivaree/
A Lake Sturgeon caught at a prior Shivaree. Photo from sturgeonfortomorrow.org |
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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…
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.
Highlights for the rest of the week include…
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. 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 Island 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…
Monday, it’s All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock.
Tuesday kicks of with 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.
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at the BIC Center at 1:00. At 5:00 it’s Time for Art, also at the BIC Cener. This week, it’s quilling with Lois Stipp. Quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and gluing thin strips of paper into decorative designs with a 3-dimensional element. Lois will take you through it step by step. |
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NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Drew. 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: Mac McPherson. Happy Birthday to Mac, 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 1984, Apple Computer launches the Macintosh with a single $1.5 million commercial during the Super Bowl. Apple’s commercial played on the theme of George Orwell’s 1984 and featured the destruction of Big Brother — a veiled reference to IBM — with the power of personal computing found in a Macintosh, the first successful mouse-driven computer with a graphic user interface. Still from Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl commercial launching the Macintosh. Click the image to see the video. Image from The80sRuled |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is disheveled (adjective) [dih-SHEV-uld]. It describes anyone or anything in a state of disorder — from rumpled clothes and messy desks to unmade beds. But hair is its most common companion, and that’s no accident. That’s because disheveled comes from a Middle English word meaning “with disordered hair,” rooted in an old French term that literally refers to hair being undone or out of place. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs: “It takes a lot of hard work to make something simple.” |
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On a lighter note… Why did the Mac refuse to eat dinner? |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, January 22nd, 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 20 percent chance of snow showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 9 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -11. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight-Cold Weather Advisory at 8:00 p.m. A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -3. Wind chill values as low as -26. Blustery, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Friday-Cold Weather Advisory A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 4pm. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 3. Wind chill values as low as -26. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Friday Night-Cold Weather Advisory A 10 percent chance of snow showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -3. Wind chill values as low as -22. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph. Saturday-Cold Weather Advisory to 11:00 am Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 10. West wind around 10 mph. Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 13. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17.
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Air Quality Index this morning was 2. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
The City of Petoskey is clarifying its stance on Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity — despite no known enforcement actions locally — as leaders respond to resident concerns. In Lansing, lawmakers are pushing new limits on kids’ access to AI chatbots, while civil rights groups warn of unintended consequences. We’ll also look at a record year at Cherry Capital Airport, a stunning Northern Lights display over Arranmore, and the return of the Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree.
…all of those stories 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: Arranmore Auroa from January 20th. Photo by Pat Cook |
