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As data center proposals surge across Michigan, lawmakers are pushing to repeal the tax breaks that helped attract them. Republican Jim DeSana and Democrat Dylan Wegela have introduced bills to end sales and use tax exemptions for the massive facilities, drawing both support and opposition from communities and utilities. Public pushback has already led developers to scrap a proposed data center in Kalkaska County, where strong local opposition prompted the company to cancel its plan. The Mackinac Bridge was closed for more than an hour Monday night during an emergency incident. The bridge shut down around 8:20 p.m. and reopened just before 10 o’clock. Bridge officials later confirmed the situation was resolved and that one person was transported for medical attention. Authorities have not released further details, and state and local police have declined additional comment. The Chabad Jewish Community Center in Traverse City will hold its third annual Menorah in the Square this Sunday, even as the celebration follows a deadly attack at a Hanukkah gathering in Australia. Rabbi Laibel Shemtov told I-P-R News that the tragedy will be acknowledged, but the focus will be on adding light and unity. The public event begins at 5 p.m. Sunday at Rotary Square, with canned-good donations incorporated into the menorah. A Petoskey-based pediatrician may soon play a role in expanding care on Beaver Island. The Health Center says that Dr. Cynthia Celine Statler, who also practices in St. Ignace and has more than 30 years of experience, will interview on the Island early in the new year. She’s being considered for a one-year pilot program to assess pediatric care needs, funded through a grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. Meantime, a holiday silent auction is going on at the Health Center. Items up for bid include an autographed Lions jersey, a brewmaster’s basket, and a coffee collection. You need to drop by the Health Center to bid in person by noon on the 22nd. A friendly warning if you’re traveling to Charlevoix this Friday — you may encounter a sudden outbreak of ugly Christmas sweaters. National Ugly Sweater Day is being marked with the Ugly Sweater Trail, starting at 3 p.m., as festively dressed participants migrate between downtown bars and restaurants. The knitwear invasion wraps up at JAX Northside, complete with prizes, drink specials, and holiday cheer — all in support of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. Sweater exposure is expected to be heavy. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… Library Board and JTAC meet Thursday at 4:30. A-A meets Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. That’s it on the meeting front through the end of next week and, for that matter, through end of the year save for A-A. On the fun front today… Wednesday, Santa’s Workshop will be busy at school. There’s bingo at the BIC Center at 1:00 in the Hangout. Wednesday evening it’s a Candlelit Christmas with the NoMi String Collective at the BIC Center. There’s no charge for admission, but you do need to reserve a seat at tickets dot bic center dot org. Showtime is 6:00 p.m. Highlights for the rest of the week include… Thursday, at 10:00, there’s pickleball in the theater and Tai Chi is in the Hangout both at the BIC Center and there is Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. Thursday evenings are Burger & a Beer Night at the Shamrock, plus Thursday Night is time for Euchre at Whiskey Point Brewery. Cards hit the table at 7:00. Also Thursday evening, the TUNES Holiday Recital is at the BIC Center at 7:00 p.m. Friday gets underway with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is at 10:00 in the Theater and Chair Strength Training is up in the Hangout at 10:30. And Friday afternoon at 1:20 the Emerald Isle heads to Charlevoix for her last trip of the season. [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.] On Saturday, the Fiero Code Club is on at the library at 1:00 with a new program alongside it called Girls that Code for girls in grades 3-12. At the BIC Center Saturday, a pair of Christmas movies are on tap. At 3:00 it’s Home Alone and at 6:00 It’s a Wonderful Life. Both are rated PG. It’s also Prime Rib Night tathe Shamrock and, our Dark Skies will be especially dark Saturday Night with the New Moon. [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 is all you can eat pizza and salad night at the Shamrock. Tuesday, there’s Pickleball at the BIC Center at 10:00, and Babes and Toddlers mix it up over at the library at 10:00. And in the Hang Out at the BIC Center, there’s Chair Strength Training at 10:30. Wednesday is Christmas Eve. The BIC Center will be closed for the holiday, but WVBI will have special entertainment for your last minute holiday preparations and Christmas Eve celebrations with Christmas specials and non-stop holiday tunes. Thursday, the special programs and music on WVBI will continue as we provide the soundtrack for your Beaver Island Christmas. We’ll have the Home for the Holidays concert recorded at the BIC Center, Christmas music specials, holiday radio plays and non-stop Christmas music. |
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NAME OF DAY: Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Rose. If that’s your name, come into the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice, courtesy of your friends at the BIC Center and WVBI. BIRTHDAYS: Joey Timsak and Connor McDonough are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Connor and Joey, 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, the roads are super slick with yet another fresh coat of snow so, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone. |
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On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright make history near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, successfully flying a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. The fragile plane stays aloft for 12 seconds, covering 120 feet. The brothers wire their father to alert the press, but most newspapers dismiss the claim, and the breakthrough goes largely unnoticed at the time. Also on this date in 1991, Russia’s president Boris Yeltsin announces the Soviet Union will dissolve by year’s end, declaring, “There will be no more red flag.” The public response is muted, as many former Soviet republics have already declared independence. The first flight at Kitty Hawk. Photo from U.S. Library of Congress |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is espouse (verb) [ih-SPOWZ]. To espouse an idea or belief is to take it up and support it as a cause. The word comes from the Latin verb spondēre — [spon-DARE-eh] — meaning “to promise” or “to betroth.” It’s the same root that gives us spouse. While espouse once meant “to marry,” today it’s used almost entirely to describe committing to and standing behind an idea or principle. |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Wednesday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from Pope Francis, who was born on this day in 1936: “Having faith does not mean having no difficulties, but having the strength to face them, knowing we are not alone.” |
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On a lighter note… How are socks like snowflakes? |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, December 17th, 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 Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 30 by 10am. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Tonight A slight chance of snow showers between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of drizzle after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 36 by 4am. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday Showers with a slight chance of drizzle before 7am, then showers after 7am. High near 43. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Thursday Night Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all snow after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values as low as zero. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 30 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Friday A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Friday Night A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 17. Breezy. Saturday Snow showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Breezy. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Breezy. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Monday Night A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy. |
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Air Quality Index this morning was 6. |
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today NW wind 20 to 25 kt becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Waves 5 ft subsiding to 1 ft. Thursday-Gale Warning S wind 20 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 35 kt. Rain. Waves 5 to 7 ft. Friday-Gale Warning NNW wind 20 to 25 kt decreasing to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 kt. A chance of snow showers, mainly before noon. Widespread freezing spray before 10am. Waves 5 ft subsiding to 1 ft. |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Coming up in our Community Calendar Report… A pair of lawmakers push to repeal tax breaks for data centers. The Mackinac Bridge closes for more than an hour during an emergency incident. Traverse City prepares for Menorah in the Square, pediatric care on Beaver Island could expand, and travelers to Charlevoix are advised to brace for an outbreak of ugly Christmas sweaters. All of those stories plus a run-down of local events, birthdays and more all after this global and national news update from F-S-N. It’s [timecheck]. |
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Today’s featured image: If you travel to Charlevoix Friday, be prepared for a visual assault of ugly sweaters. The good news is that it’s all to raise funds for the Women’s Resource Center. Graphic by ChatGPT for WVBI |
