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A bill to ban smartphones in Michigan classrooms has failed, ending one of Governor Whitmer’s top education priorities for the year. The measure, sponsored by Republican Rep. Mark Tisdel, fell short in the House after Democrats blocked it, despite previous compromises with Whitmer and Senate Democrats. House Speaker Matt Hall says there will be no ban this school year. A competing, less restrictive bill from Senate Democrats passed in May, but Hall says the House won’t take it up. The fight over phones comes as lawmakers remain deadlocked on the school budget. On the Island, local rules generally prohibit use of phones by students during class. Another iconic Michigan company has been sold. Iowa-based HNI Corporation announced Monday it’s acquiring Grand Rapids-based Steelcase in a $2.2 billion deal. Steelcase is one of West Michigan’s largest office furniture makers, with 11,300 employees worldwide—including 3,500 in the Grand Rapids area. HNI, founded in 1944, says it plans to integrate the companies by the end of 2025 but hasn’t said whether it will retain all Steelcase employees. The merger follows HNI’s 2023 acquisition of Kimball International. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 20 other states in suing the Trump administration over its halt to EV charger funding. The suit aims to restore Michigan’s $87 million share, which Nessel says is vital for economic growth and clean energy progress. A new report from Travel Michigan shows the state’s tourism industry generated $54.8 billion in economic impact last year. More than 131 million visitors came to Michigan in 2024, spending over $30 billion and supporting more than 350,000 jobs. The report says the Pure Michigan ad campaign alone influenced nearly 800,000 trips. There’s a link to the full report in the script online. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner. A-A meets at 6:00 at the Christian Church on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday same time and place. Peaine Township Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 3:30. And that’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week. On the fun front today… Tuesday, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 9:00. Pickleball is outside on the township courts at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. At 10:30, there’s C-O-A Walkersize with a walk from Heritage Park out to the St. James Campground and back. At 1:00, drop by the BIC Center Hangout to play Mah Jongg [mah jawng]. Tuesday evening at 7:00, meet Islands of Deception author Chris Thelen at the library. In our dark skies Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the bright waxing gibbous moon will glow near the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius the Archer. The bright moon will likely drown out the dimmer stars of the Teapot. They’ll set a few hours before sunrise. There’s more at dark sky island dot org. Wednesday, Summer Yoga is on at the BIC Center at 9:30 with a restorative session. At the library, there’s Kids Storytime, Crafts and Art for three years and up at 10:00 and then for 10 years and up at 11:00. At the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. At 3:00 C-O-A has Fun & Gamers out at Peaine Township Hall. And, there’s BINGO Wednesday evening at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. Highlights for the rest of the week include… Thursday at 9:00, there’s Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 10:00 a trifecta of activities: Tai Chi in the Hangout at the BIC Center, C-O-A Cardio Drumming out at the Peaine Township Hall and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. At 11:00, the COA has a Crafter’s Social at the Peaine Township Hall. At 5:30 next Thursday, the BIC Center W-V-B-I Summer Breeze Gala gets underway out at the Biological Station. Enjoy a plated dinner, beer, wine and other beverages, live and silent auctions, raffle prizes, music from John Ellison and the Carpenter Ants…and the company of Island friends all at an event to support the BIC Center and W-V-B-I. Tickets are at tickets dot bic center dot org. Also Thursday evening, it’s Burger and a Beer Night at the Shamrock and over at the library at Elizabeth Claire Rose will be the artist in residence for the evening. She’s a print maker who works with photography and collage. That starts at 7:30. Friday, kicks with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 8:30 to 11:30. At 9:00, there’s Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at the BIC Center and Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. Summer Yoga is at 9:30 with a basic flow session in the theater at the BIC Center. C-O-A has a Walkersize session at 10:30, a walk from Heritage Park to the St. James Campground and back. Island Homecoming activities get underway at 12:45 with Ryley Maudrie playing the National Anthem ahead of the 50th annual Bud McDonnough Memorial Softball Tournament. At 6:00 there’s Cleats and Chaos as the Island’s fiercest females bring action to the diamond. And at 7:00 it’s the Mike Perdue Memorial Concert the Doghouse Boodlers playing rock-n-roll. [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, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. The Artisan’s Market is on out by the lighthouse at Whiskey Point. That starts at 10:00. At 1:00, there’s a Garden Open house on the south end at Giona Mangra’s and Scot Simon’s Shenanigan’s Garden. That’s to support the Wellness Garden at the Health Center. No charge, but your free will donation will help the wellness garden. Also, at 1:00, the Fiero Coding Club is on at the Library. And, Saturdays are Prime Rib night at the Shamrock. After dinner head out to see a full moon rising over Paradise Bay. [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 Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. The annual Bocce Ball Role starts at 11:00. This year it benefits the Health Center. Sign up at Tickets dot bic center dot org. Homecoming Chicken Dinner starts at 4:30 at Holy Cross Hall. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Monday Volleyball Camp starts at BICS. Summer Yoga is at the BIC Center at 9:30 in the Theater with a Basic Flow session followed by a Therapeutic Chair session at 11:00. At 10:00, Nancy Peterson will be at the library leading a session on beading. C-O-A has Cardio Drumming at 10:00 and a Crafter’s Social at 11:00, both out at Peaine Township Hall. Monday evening is all you can eat pizza night at the Beachcomber. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Adam. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Mary Scholl, Julie Martin and Nancy Darling are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Nancy, Julie and Mary, 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 with no bridge delays. But it is very busy in town when the ferry arrives, and the warm weather means lots of folks at the public beach plus hikers and bikers everywhere. Plus, baby turtles are busy crossing. So, let’s be careful out there. |
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On this date in 1975 Stevie Wonder signs what is, at the time, the most lucrative deal in music history—a seven-year, $37 million contract with Motown. The deal gives him not just money, but full creative control, including veto power over releases and even future sales of the label. It marks a stunning return from the brink of retirement and paves the way for his legendary album Songs in the Key of Life. Songs in the Key of Life album Cover. Image from Motown Records |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is contentious (adjective) [kun-TEN-shuss], which describes something that is likely to cause people to argue or disagree or that involves a lot of arguing. When used of a person, contentious describes someone likely or willing to argue. If everyone has a bone to pick now and then, contentious types have entire skeletons. Contentious implies a fondness for arguing that others find particularly tedious or wearying. Thankfully, even the most contentious cranks and crabs among us have no cause to quibble over the history of the word contentious, as its origins are very clear: contentious comes (by way of Middle French) from the Latin adjective contentiōsus, meaning “persistent, obstinate, argumentative, or quarrelsome.” |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Tuesday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Stevie Wonder: “We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.” |
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On a lighter note… Why are men so stubborn? I am not going to tell you. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Tuesday, August 5th, 2025. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios, wishing you a great day and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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Today Widespread haze. Areas of smoke after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75/79. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Areas of smoke before 3am. Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind around 10 mph. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77/81. East wind around 10 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 10 mph becoming south after midnight. Thursday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79/84. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Thursday Night A 40 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Friday A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81/85. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 81/86. Saturday Night A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Sunday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79/84. Sunday Night A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Monday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79/83. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at High. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today ESE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Areas of smoke between 10am and 11am, then Areas of smoke after noon. Waves 1 ft or less. Wednesday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Areas of smoke before 11am, then Areas of smoke after noon. Waves 1 ft or less. Thursday S wind around 10 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 69 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 70 with one foot seas.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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📱 No classroom phone ban… 🪑 A West Michigan giant sold… ⚖️ Nessel sues over EV funds… 💰 And Pure Michigan’s big tourism impact… It’s a packed newscast today: Lawmakers scrap a proposed phone ban in schools, Steelcase gets sold in a $2.2 billion deal, AG Dana Nessel takes on Trump over EV charger money, and Michigan tourism hits $54.8 billion. |
