🌱 What Elk Rapids residents should know as Bellaire Dam strain continues
Coffee in hand, Elk Rapids? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What Elk Rapids residents should know as Bellaire Dam strain continues
- How are Lake Michigan fish faring off Elk Rapids this year?
Also on today's calendar: Sound Journey with Rebecca and 4 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Mainly cloudy and warmer, with a high of 69 and low of 39 degrees.
- Saturday: Rain and a thunderstorm, temps: high: 46, low: 33.
- Sunday: Cold with snow showers, with a high of 38 and low of 27 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• UPDATE: Bellaire dam still at its limit as downstream families wait out the crisis (9and10news.com) — Antrim County officials say the Bellaire Dam remains at its limit, keeping downstream Intermediate River residents on high alert while the Elk Rapids Hydrodam is reported stable for now. Families along the river are exhausted, monitoring alerts, and preparing to evacuate if water levels rise further, as the county’s Ready-Set-Go protocols outline exactly when they’ll be told to leave. 
• Survey says: Bad news for whitefish, yellow perch up (mankatofreepress.com) — Elk Rapids is one of four northern Lake Michigan ports where state researchers recently sampled fish populations, finding whitefish still struggling while yellow perch show promising gains. The 2025 survey data from Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Leland, and Arcadia will guide future decisions on managing trout, salmon, and other key species that matter to local anglers and the regional economy.
📸 Around Elk Rapids
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Elk Rapids
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Grass River Natural Area Trivia @ the Pull Barn!
Short's Brewing Co. Pull Barn & Production Brewery (Elk Rapids), 211 Industrial Park Drive, Elk Rapids
6:00 pm
Friday April 24
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Elk Rapids Yoga Flow 2026 Class Schedule
Elk Rapids Chamber , 212 River Street Upper Level , Elk Rapids -
Village to Village
Elk Rapids Chamber , 135 Ames Street , Elk Rapids
12:00 pm -
Waterfire Cookbook Club
Elk Rapids Chamber , 12180 Sutter Rd. , Kewadin
12:00 pm -
Sacred Heart Euchre
Sacred Heart Community Center , 143 Charles St. , Elk Rapids
6:30 pm -
Elk Rapids Yoga Flow 2026 Class Schedule
Elk Rapids Chamber , 212 River Street Upper Level , Elk Rapids -
Sound Journey with Rebecca
Elk Rapids Yoga Flow , 212 River St , Elk Rapids
5:00 pm
Saturday April 18
Sunday April 19
Sunday April 26
📣 Elk Rapids Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
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Sing & Stomp w/ Miss Amanda
Traverse Area District Library , 1989 Three Mile Rd. , Traverse City
10:00 am -
After-hours Poetry & Pizza Night!
Traverse Area District Library , 610 Woodmere Ave. , Traverse City
6:00 pm -
Roast Battle
Traverse City Comedy Club , 738 S Garfield Ave , Traverse City
6:00 pm -
Roy Wood Jr.
City Opera House , 106 E Front St , Traverse City
8:00 pm -
Visible Mending Workshop
Suttons Bay Bingham District Library , 416 N. Front Street , Suttons Bay
10:30 am
Friday April 17
Saturday April 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Blarney Castle Oil Company posted a job opening for Customer Service Associate Part Time Overnight in Elk Rapids. Apply here.
- Traverse City Pit Spitters posted a job opening for Traverse City Pit Spitters: Gameday Stocker in Traverse City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elk Rapids here.
🗞 Nearby News
Bellaire
- Bellaire residents urged to limit water use as sewer system strains after heavy rainfall (upnorthlive.com)
- High water has Michigan juggling a growing list of problem dams (mlive.com)
Traverse City
- Community in Brief: 04/16/2026 (record-eagle.com)
- Team Elmer's works tirelessly to limit flood damage in Northern Michigan (9and10news.com)
- MI Man Hit With Ax In Road Rage Incident: Report (patch.com)
Ok Elk Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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