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Unless you’ve been living under a pile of leaves, you’ve no doubt heard about the “Leave the Leaves” movement that’s been gaining in popularity in recent years. The idea is to avoid sending bagged-up fallen leaves to landfills. Instead, we’re asked to leave them be, allowing them to naturally decompose over the winter into nutrient-rich organic matter that also shelters hibernating pollinators and …

Saturday’s second-annual “Discover the Treasures of St. Joseph County” dinner drew more than 40 participants. Staged at Rawson’s King Mill Park in Leonidas Township, the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event featured a luau theme. In addition, two participants took advantage of a self-guided kayak ride from Factoryville to the park as part of the $45-per-ticket offering. Chamber director Christy …

The Village of White Pigeon has lifted the boil water notice.  The village had issued the notice several days ago when the municipal water system lost pressure.  Tests have determined that the village water is safe for human consumption.

The second annual MagiCelebration got off to a good start Wednesday, as out-of-town visitors and area residents descended on the village of Colon for some magic and fun during the four-day event. The afternoon highlight centered on FAB Magic Co., where owner Rick Fisher drew a standing-room-only crowd for a free magic show. Fisher said registration for magicians is up …

The gunman who barricaded himself inside an adult novelty store in southern Michigan after leading police on a high-speed chase across state lines is facing multiple charges. 39-year-old Joseph Leiffer of Carleton was arraigned on one count of felony fleeing and eluding, two counts of kidnapping and felony firearm possession in Branch County District Court Wednesday. Leiffer robbed a pharmacy …

An undisclosed amount of lumber was stolen from a construction site within the past week in Mottville Township. The incident occurred between 4 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Monday in the 69000 block of Vistula Road. Troopers indicated the incident may be related to the theft of a utility trailer from the same location a few days earlier.

A five-person team spent Saturday morning clearing debris from the Nottawa Creek as part of the ongoing river cleanup effort by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Ross and Alisha Truckey, Matt Davidson, John Nelson and Matt Dinnon cleared garbage out of Nottawa Creek from Rawson’s King Mill Park to the Olney Road bridge in Leonidas Township. Trash collected from …

In the year following President Barack Obama’s re-election and the Sandy Hook School shooting massacre, applications and approvals for concealed weapons permits increased by more than 50 percent in Michigan. The annual report by the Michigan State Police shows that from July 2012 to June 30, 2013, there were nearly 130,000 applications for concealed weapons permits and more than 118,000 …

Two Anderson, Ind., men were plucked from the St. Joseph River near the Mottville Dam last week. Rescue personnel said the boat got caught in the current Wednesday morning and was pulled into the dam. Both men were rescued before the boat sank. Personnel from the White Pigeon Fire Department, St. Joseph County Dive Rescue and St. Joseph County Marine …

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies handled a complaint regarding an assault with a deadly weapon with intent to commit murder early Sunday in the 60000 block of Main Street in Vandalia. The victim, 46-year-old Mark Perkins of Dowagiac, said he got into a verbal altercation which ended with the suspect pulling out a knife and stabbing him two times. Perkins was …