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Planning Commission ponders lighting regulations
At the heart of last Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting was the question of how to balance public safety, wildlife needs and eye comfort when it comes to regulating lighting in the code. Planning Director…
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It’s time to mask-up against the flu
Respiratory illness indicators are rising across the North Sound region as emergency departments see an increase in respiratory visits. According to the latest Skagit County Weekly Respiratory Report, the percentage of emergency department visits…
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High tides ease for the rest of January
Minor flooding downtown earlier this week
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Is La Conner unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians?
New draft report suggests high death and injury rates, puzzling town officials
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Polar bear plungers brrrr-ing in 2026
Nicole Hagen and Mo Olason wanted the full New Year’s Day polar plunge experience. They spotted the Shelter Bay Polar Plunge event on social media, started chatting and decided to take the leap.
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Town, County, Sound and Sea
Skagit County is accepting applications for the newly formed Climate Impact Advisory Committee, a group created to advise the Board of Commissioners on climate change risks, adaptation and risk reduction. The committee’s role is…
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Push-in ceremony for new fire district tender rig set for Jan. 14
Chief Wood Weiss has plenty of pull around Skagit County Fire District 13. But he’ll need help when it comes to making a big push to officially welcome the newest addition to the district’s…
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Janicki retires; Commissioners appoint Burns to fill vacancy
After 11 years of representing District 3, Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki drew the curtain on Friday to step into retirement.
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Agritourism: Loud mess or way to connect with nature?
County extends permit moratorium.
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Looking back and laughing forward at the Retirement Inn
Residents at the La Conner Retirement Inn didn’t just ring in the new year last week. They toasted 2025, swapped stories from the year gone by and offered words of wisdom to a young…
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Kids make 2026 new year wishes at library party
Monster trucks and animals top the list Kids and grown-ups rang in the new year a little early and a lot sparkly at the La Conner Swinomish Library on Wednesday. At 11:30 a.m., families…
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Businesses assess the decline in Canadian tourism
The official numbers aren’t in yet, but there’s a strong vibe that 2025 was a down year for Canadian tourism in La Conner. Nor is the town alone on that score. Many U.S. communities…
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Minor flooding in downtown La Conner Sunday
More minor flooding is expected Monday morning according to the National Weather Service.
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Rosalinda Guillen still says “we” — and keeps fighting for Skagit farmworkers
La Conner organizer Rosalinda Guillen traces her farmworker roots and decades of advocacy as immigration crackdowns intensify, spotlighting local fears over deportation and H-2A exploitation, as well as paths to citizenship.
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West Skagit farms weather floods; recovery will shape the months ahead
Skagit Valley farms avoided widespread flood damage, but growers say lingering mud and saturated fields — not high water — will determine crop losses and recovery in the months ahead.
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Coastal flooding, high winds expected in La Conner on Christmas Eve
Public Works is out about town stacking sandbags this morning to protect against possible minor coastal flooding Wednesday morning followed by damaging high winds Wednesday afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service alerts come…
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Santa visits Swinomish Christmas Party
Peyton Charles, 7, of Swinomish shares her Christmas wish list with Santa Sunday night. Peyton caught up with the jolly old elf during the Swinomish Community Dinner and Christmas Party at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge. PHOTO BY BILL REYNOLDS/LA CONNER COMMUNITY NEWSThough thousands of miles from his North Pole workshop, world renowned toymaker Santa Claus felt right at home when he visited the Swinomish Community Dinner and Christmas Party Sunday night.
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Extreme weather resources
As the weekend storm front moves in, make sure your GO bag is packed with medications, important papers, chargers, a change of clothes and comfort items. Talk with everyone in your household so you…
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Council accepts King County help to plan for sea level rise, flooding
NOAA-funded program will provide up to 100 hours of free technical support.
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Town approves 2026 budget
After approving a preliminary budget two weeks ago, the La Conner Town Council gave a final, unanimous thumbs up to the 2026 budget, which includes $6.46 million in revenues and authorizes the Town to…
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Fire District 13 chief: Keep watch on Landing Road, Snee-Oosh Beach
District 13 Fire Chief Wood Weiss has been participating in multiple Skagit County Department of Emergency Management Flood Watch Advisory meetings after forecasts predicted historically high water levels on the Skagit River last week.…
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Town, County, Sound & Sea
This regular roundup distills the pulse of La Conner, Skagit County, and the broader Puget Sound into one place — local decisions shaping our town, county-wide developments with ripple effects, and coastal news that…
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Food bank secures purchase of Masonic Building
During a week in which nerves were frayed and tensions high over the threat of severe flooding in and around La Conner, a bright glow of good news was emitted from up on the…
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Farmworkers face floodwaters, fear of ICE
Advocates say some workers were kept in the fields during last week’s record floods and warn immigration enforcement could ramp up in 2025 without stronger protections.
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NEWS BULLETIN: Fir Island Road will reopen to all traffic at noon Thursday
The Conway Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) reported it was able to assess the Fir Island diking system and roadway conditions earlier than expected after the Skagit River crested sooner and lower than forecast. The…
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Dams, dikes and a dose of luck
While the historic flood predictions have passed, La Conner remains at Evacuation Level 2 with king tides, wind storms and more warm, rainy weather to come.
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High winds, high tides expected Tuesday
Strong winds and an early-morning king tide pose the biggest risks for La Conner in the next 24 hours — and neither depends on the Skagit River flooding to cause local damage.
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What to do at Level 2
On Wednesday, Skagit County officials warned anyone living within the 100-year flood zone, which includes La Conner, to prepare for sudden evacuation. While the Swinomish Reservation is mostly outside of it, some small areas…
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Town, County, Sound and Sea
A tradition first set in ink by The Puget Sound Mail on Sept. 13, 1879. This roundup distills the pulse of La Conner, Skagit County, and the broader Puget Sound into one place —…
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Police Blotter: A week of misdials, missteps and mild mayhem
Dial M for… Misdial 3:50 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3 A mysterious 911 hang-up at the middle school had dispatchers bracing for classroom chaos, but it turned out to be nothing more than a misdialing…
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Town Planning Commission ‘sign’ debate continues
The Town Planning Commission ponders whether the intent of putting an inflatable turkey in front of a place of business should be taken into consideration when determining if it should be allowed.
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La Conner braces for record flooding
Coastal flooding threat eases after high tide, but officials warn a dike failure could send river water toward town and cut off key evacuation routes.
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LIVE WEATHER UPDATES
Additional atmospheric rivers are forecast to impact Skagit County, bringing more rain tonight through tomorrow, with another system expected through Thursday These storms may cause additional flooding, but are not expected to significantly impact…
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Skagit County adopts new Critical Areas Ordinance, widening stream buffers
Skagit County commissioners voted Nov. 25 to adopt an updated Critical Areas Ordinance, ending a yearlong, contentious process shaped by Swinomish tribal feedback and public comment. The new rules double riparian buffers for small…
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Flood experts call for prevention now
New climate models show today’s “100-year” coastal floods may become decade-level events by the 2080s.
POLICE BLOTTER
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False alarms, a missing son and a car you can count on
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Police blotter: Seal pup rescue, Scooter goodbye and a very old necklace
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Police blotter: Protecting pups & vehicle quandaries
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Police blotter: Debit card unharmed, utility pole survives impact
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Police blotter: A poor parking job, a rude awakening, false alarms