Drivers should expect temporary road closures in downtown La Conner beginning this week as construction crews complete curb, gutter, sidewalk and paving work. Fourth Street will be closed between Morris and Center streets, and Center Street will be closed between Third and Fourth streets from Wednesday through June 18, according to a notice issued Tuesday. Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes during the construction period.

A widespread internet outage temporarily disrupted Skagit County services Tuesday afternoon, delaying ferry ticket sales and preventing officials from sending earlier text or email alerts. Service has since been restored, county officials said. The 2 p.m. ferry sailing departed about 12 minutes late. The 2:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. sailings were also expected to be delayed.

The Town of La Conner’s supply of compost is running low and is expected to be depleted this week. Residents interested in obtaining compost should contact the Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant at 360-466-4314 to check current availability. Town officials said they will issue an update once the compost supply has been exhausted.

Last week, the Mount Vernon City Council voted to extend a yearlong moratorium on battery energy storage systems — or BESS — by another six months to give the city more time to develop permanent regulations, as first reported by the Skagit Valley Herald. The moratorium blocks the city from accepting applications for the siting, development and construction of the facilities. Battery storage systems are used to store power that is sold in times of high demand, though critics say they pose great risks to the health of residents and the environment. Energy companies are interested in placing BESS facilities in Skagit County because of the abundance of open land, among other reasons.