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2025 is going out with a bang on the weather front with another day of blowing snow and potentially tough travel on the mainland that could extend into New Year’s Day. US-31 headed down to TC could be a tough go at times and areas just west of Gaylord might see another 8 inches of snow all of that with winds gusting at 30 to 40 mph.
More lake effect snow is on the way for the mainland. Graphic from NWS Gaylord Office The Traverse Ticker’s most read stories for 2025 show a bit of a dark turn in events in T-C. While past years were dominated by feel-good features and community events, 2025’s most-read stories were shaped by crime and public safety concerns. A mass stabbing at a Traverse City Walmart and a deadly shooting at a downtown parking deck topped the list, drawing national attention. Other highly read stories included major local controversies, a fatal child abuse case, and the closing of longtime businesses. Together, the stories show a community grappling with change — and a year that felt very different from those before it. And to avoid ending our last news segment for 2025 with that, here’s some good news from Flint: Researchers at the University of Michigan–Flint have launched ProbeTruth, a new company developing tools to verify whether videos, audio, and images are real. The technology aims to help courts, banks, and governments detect fake evidence as AI-driven fraud grows. Backed by early funding, the company plans to expand in Michigan and could soon help protect everything from financial transactions to disaster response. |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner… A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00. Next week, the Peaine Township Planning Commission has a meeting set for 5:00 on Tuesday. The school board has a committee of the whole meeting Wednesday at 5:30. That’s it on the meeting front through end of the week. On the fun front today… Wednesday is New Year’s Eve. The BIC Center will be closed, but WVBI will have special lineup of New Year’s Eve countdown shows together with a countdown to midnight. Plus, the Shamrock has some menu additions for tonight including Surf & Turf, Seafood Pasta and special deserts. And you can enter the libraries Find the Bear contest by going outside to spot the Big Dipper in the night sky and then report your sighting at the library. Looking ahead to highlights for the rest of the week… Thursday is the first day of 2026. The BIC Center will be closed. Friday gets underway with Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 9:00 to 11:00. Pickleball is on hiatus until January 6th, but Chair Strength Training is up in the Hangout at 10:30. [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.] 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, movies are on tap. At 3:00 it’s Disney’s Freakier Friday with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. It’s rated PG-13. At 6:00 it’s Jay Kelly, a comedy with George Clooney and Adam Sandler that tells the story of a famous movie actor on a journey of self-discovery. Rated R. And if you are looking for a special night out for the first Saturday of the New Year, it’s also 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, the library starts a Crafting Monday’s after school series at 3:30. There’ll be a new project each week. And, there’s all you can eat pizza and salad night at the Shamrock starting at 5:00. Tuesday, Babe’s and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00 and Pickleball returns to the BIC Center at 10:00, too. Then, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 10:30. Back at the library at 3:30, there’s Taste the World Tuesday with an opportunity to learn about a country or region through food and fun. |
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Name of the Day: No Name of the Day because the BIC Center is closed. BIRTHDAYS: Bob Turner, Colson Howard and Jack Bailey are celebrating today. Happy Birthday to Jack, Colson and Bob 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 for sleigh traffic. |
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On this day in 1956, Michigan author and judge John D. Voelker learns his novel Anatomy of a Murder had been accepted for publication — and, the very same day, Governor G. Mennen Williams calls to appoint him to the Michigan Supreme Court. The book becomes a bestseller, was later made into a film with the same name shot in the U-P starring Jimmy Stewart. It’s success eventually allows Voelker to leave the bench and write full time. As he later put it, “Others can write my opinions — but no one else can write my books.”
The Lumberjack Tavern was the site of Anatomy of a Murder’s murder. It is open still in Big Bay, Michigan. Photo from Northern Michigan University Voelker Collection |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is retrospective (adjective) [reh-truh-SPEK-tiv], an adjective meaning looking back at the past. As the year winds down, it’s a perfect word for reflecting on what’s been, whether that’s events, experiences, or accomplishments. Retrospective comes from Latin for “to look back,” and it’s also used as a noun for exhibitions that revisit an artist’s earlier work. |
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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 John Voelker who, in addition to being a lawyer, judge and writer, was a avid fisherman: “The best time to go fishing is when you can get away.” |
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On a lighter note… |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Wednesday, December 31st, 2025. We’ll be taking an end-of-year break returning on Monday. Until then, I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a very Happy New Year and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best year ever? And thanks for listening. |
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Today Snow showers likely, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -1. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Tonight A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -7. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. New Year’s Day A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -7. Breezy, with a west wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as -1. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 21. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Breezy. Saturday Cloudy, with a high near 22. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Sunday Night A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. |
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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… Another round of winter weather is moving in, with blowing snow and tough travel expected on the mainland. Plus, a look back at the stories that defined 2025 in Traverse City — a year marked by tragedy, change, and tough conversations. And a look at a Michigan-based effort to fight fake videos and online fraud. …plus 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: The harbor is icing up earlier than it has for several years. Photo from WVBI Paradise Bay Webcam |
