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Weather on the mainland over the last several weeks has left Michigan’s blood supply dangerously low. Versiti Blood Center of Michigan says thousands of donation appointments were canceled, and blood can’t be stockpiled for long. Local patients still need care — for surgeries, trauma, and cancer treatments. If you’re headed across to the mainland in the next week or so, consider carving out a little time to give blood. You can find a nearby donation site by clicking on donate at versiti dot org.
If you are headed across, consider taking time to donate. Graphic by ChatGPT
And speaking of the weather, while we are in for bitter cold the next several day, forecasters say there is a bright side to arctic chill headed our way: the air is really dry, which means a break in the seemingly endless lake-effect snow and some sunshine in the days to come. And then, next week they say we might see a brief warm-up into the 30s followed by a stormy pattern that could persist through the month into March.
In Lansing, Bipartisan bills aimed at regulating drone use in Michigan cleared a state House committee hearing Tuesday. The legislation would create no-drone zones around sensitive sites like government buildings and power plants, and allow local police to take down trespassing drones. Supporters say current federal rules leave the state vulnerable to malicious or weaponized drones. Drone industry groups back the safety goals, but warn the bills could conflict with federal authority and create challenges for hobbyists and businesses.
Lansing lawmakers are also taking aim at medical debt. A bipartisan package would limit aggressive collection practices, cap interest, and prevent care from being denied over unpaid bills. Supporters say the goal is simple: medical emergencies shouldn’t ruin lives.
In the U-P, a zoo is urging the Michigan Supreme Court to reject hearing a case arguing chimpanzees have constitutional rights against wrongful imprisonment. The Nonhuman Rights Project wants chimps moved from the DeYoung Family Zoo to a preserve. The zoo counters that habeas corpus applies to people, not animals, and says relocating the chimps wouldn’t be in their best interest. The appeal follows a win by the zoo in the Court of Appeals.
Meantime, the D-N-R says cougars were confirmed 31 times in Michigan in 2025, the highest total in more than a century and all in the U-P. Officials say better trail cameras may be driving the increase — but the discovery of cougar cubs last year confirms the big cats are once again breeding in the state.
A cougar appears on a Michigan Department of Natural Resources trail camera in 2023. Michigan recorded its highest number of confirmed cougar sightings in more than a century last year. Photo from Michigan DNR
Interlochen Center for the Arts is launching a new Northern Michigan Opportunity Scholarship to help local students attend Interlochen Arts Camp. The program will provide $100,000 a year to students from 15 northern Lower Michigan counties, focusing on financial need rather than merit. School leaders say the goal is to ensure northern Michigan students remain a core part of Interlochen’s community, even as tuition costs continue to rise. There’s a link with more info and an application in today’s script online. https://www.interlochen.org/summer-camp/admission/how-to-apply-to-arts-camp |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle…
First your meeting planner…
A-A meets tonight and Saturday at 6:00 at the Christian Church. That’s it on the meeting front for this last week of January.
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.
Looking ahead to highlights for the rest of the week…
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 tipoff 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, Song Sung Blue comes to the BIC Center Theater. A poll on Facebook made the selection. Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. It’s rated PG-13. And, remember, Saturdays are Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock.
A Facebook poll selected Song Sung Blue for the last movie of the month. See it at 6:00 this Saturday at the BIC Center. Image from BIC Center
[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, there’s a spelling bee at school for 2nd through 8th grade. It starts at 2:00. it’s All You Can Eat Pizza and Salad night at the Shamrock.
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.
Wednesday, there’s BINGO at the BIC Center at 1:00. At 5:00 it’s Time for Art, also at the BIC Center. That’ll be the second of three sessions on making Madi Gras masks lead by Cindy Ricksgers. |
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NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is River. 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: Julie Gillespie, Rachel McCafferty and Vaugn Siller. Happy Birthday to Rachel, Julie and Vaughn, 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 1886, Karl Benz patented the world’s first successful gasoline-powered automobile. His three-wheeled Patent-Motorwagen marked the birth of the modern auto industry — setting the stage for personal transportation and forever changing how people travel.
The patent for the first motorcar. Image from Hagerty UK |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is reciprocate (verb) [rih-SIP-ruh-kayt]. To reciprocate means to return a favor, action, or feeling in kind. If someone helps you and you help them back, you’re reciprocating. The word comes from Latin roots meaning “to move back and forth,” like a reciprocating engine, and today it’s most often used for mutual exchanges — whether that’s kindness, effort, or even affection. |
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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 Challenger crew member and teacher Christa McAuliffe: “Reach for it. Push yourself as far as you can.” |
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On a lighter note… What’s the dumbest animal in the jungle? A polar bear. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, January 29th, 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 and cold, with a high near 5. Wind chill values as low as -16. East wind around 5 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around -10. Wind chill values as low as -23. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -24. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Friday Night Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -10. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 17. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 25. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. |
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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…
Winter weather on the mainland has left Michigan’s blood supply critically low, with thousands of donation appointments canceled. Plus, forecasters say there’s a silver lining to the arctic cold — a break from lake-effect snow and some sunshine ahead. We’ll also have the latest from Lansing on drone rules and medical debt, a legal fight involving a U-P zoo and its chimpanzees, a record year for cougar sightings, and a new scholarship opportunity at Interlochen.
…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: Ice streches across the straights this morning as the red sky urges sailors to take warning (perhaps about the bitter cold). Photo from Mackinac Bridge Authroity |
