Pet of the Day 12/31/20
Delaney is a girl with a bit of sass. She loves to play and can sometimes be vocal, but she can have a bit of…
December 2020
Tuscan White Bean Soup
(Family Features) In what’s certain to be a holiday season unlike any other, you can transform your seasonal menu in 20 minutes of prep time…
The Evolution of ORA
The ORA looked very different fifteen years ago than it does today. I sat down recently with current CEO John Phillips to talk about the…
Tri-county area adds 56 virus cases
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Wednesday announced 56 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the tri-county area, as well as…
Man waives hearing in rape, sex assault case involving minor
From staff reports A former Venango County man facing more than 30 charges that accuse him of raping and sexually assaulting a now 16-year-old girl…
Wolf to let some COVID-19 lockdown measures expire on Monday
HARRISBURG (AP) — Additional restrictions that were imposed in Pennsylvania almost three weeks ago to combat the COVID-19 pandemic will expire as expected early next…
Steelers WR Claypool taking breakout rookie season in stride
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The initial splash Chase Claypool made quickly turned into a tidal wave, one opposing defenses could no longer ignore. Scoring four touchdowns…
Trebek’s last new ‘Jeopardy!’ episodes airing with a tribute
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The final new “Jeopardy!” episodes hosted by Alex Trebek will air next week, with highlights that promise to be memorable. The…
Recent Deaths 12/31/20
Carmen Patrick Caccavo, 94, of Franklin, died Dec. 29, 2020. Brian E. “Boo” Snyder, 61, of Titusville, died Dec. 29, 2020. Allen Taube, 80, of…
Pet of the Day 12/30/20
Fable came to us when her owner passed away. Her and the other dogs at the home were kept outside most of the time. She…
Chicken and Rice Casserole with Spinach and Mushrooms
(Family Features) Just the thought of comfort foods is often enough to warm the soul, especially as cool winds blow and temperatures drop. When cooler…
Tri-county area adds 48 virus cases
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Tuesday announced 48 new cases of COVID-19 and two new virus-related deaths were reported from the…
St. Patrick Masses canceled
From staff reports Masses at St. Patrick Parish in Franklin have been canceled until further notice while Msgr. John Herbein, the parish pastor, awaits the…
Trump’s $2,000 checks stall in Senate as GOP blocks vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks stalled out in the Senate as Republicans blocked a swift vote proposed…
Steelers to sit Roethlisberger for finale against Browns
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to let Ben Roethlisberger rest up for the playoffs. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Roethlisberger will…
Joe and Jill Biden to appear on ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Seacrest will have a special pair of guests alongside the music stars at this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration on…
Recent Deaths 12/30/20
Bessie Belle (Callander) Maihle, 89, died Dec. 28, 2020. Linda Stull Masterson, 68, of Franklin, died Dec. 26, 2020. Carolyn McFadden, 77, of Franklin, died…
Pet of the Day 12/29/20
Spirit came to us due to landlord issues and with very little socialization. She is on a daily medication to help and she has come…
Veggie Sammies with Peanut Butter Satay Sauce
(Family Features) Starting fresh with a new year is a chance to hit the reset button for many people, and your family can use this…
Tri-county reports 15 new virus cases
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Monday announced 15 new cases of COVID-19 and three new virus-related deaths were reported from the…
Pointe warming center open to anyone on cold nights
By DILLON PROVENZA Staff writer The Pointe in Oil City is experiencing low usage of its warming center. “Our numbers seem to be down this…
Fate of Trump’s $2,000 checks now rests with GOP-led Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks now rests with the Senate after the House voted overwhelmingly to meet the…
Steelers can exhale after a wearying run to AFC North title
PITTSBURGH (AP) — This time, JuJu Smith-Schuster saved his dancing for the locker room. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver who drew the ire of opponents…
Netflix reworks leftovers with food-based reality game show
NEW YORK (AP) — Just in time for anyone facing a heaving, post-holiday refrigerator comes a TV show about what to do with all those…
Recent Deaths 12/29/20
Margaret A. “Peggy” Barnett, 78, of East Hickory, died Dec. 27, 2020. Bonnie J. Roddy, 92, of East Palestine, Ohio, formerly of Oil City, died…
Pet of the Day 12/28/20
Louise is a young, high-energy girl who loves to play. She can be a bit mouthy in her play but that is a characteristic of…
Peanut Butter Chicken
(Family Features) Starting fresh with a new year is a chance to hit the reset button for many people, and your family can use this…
Warm Wishes for Holiday Season
With 2020 drawing to a close, I would like to extend the warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season to all of our nation’s veterans,…
Tri-county adds 240 cases over holiday weekend
From staff reports The state Department of Health over Friday, Saturday and Sunday announced the tri-county area reported an increase of 240 cases of COVID-19….
Trump signs COVID relief, averts federal shutdown
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package, ending days of drama over his refusal to…
Steelers rally past Colts to end skid, lock up AFC North
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Their once-promising season on the brink of a full-out collapse, the Pittsburgh Steelers headed to the locker room for halftime at Heinz…
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ debuts with pandemic-best $16.7M
NEW YORK (AP) — Despite premiering simultaneously by streaming service, “Wonder Woman 1984” managed the best box office debut of the pandemic, opening with $16.7…
Recent Deaths 12/28/20
Bill Lawson, formerly of Corsica, died Dec. 25, 2020. Orville Harford Lerch, 85, of Clarion, died Dec. 24, 2020. Joseph W. Lowrie, Sr., 78, of…
Singing Hills property up for sale
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The timber company that owns the former Singing Hills Girl Scout camp between Oil City and Dempseytown has put the…
FBI at home of possible person of interest in Nashville bomb
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Federal agents converged Saturday on the home of a possible person of interest in the explosion that rocked downtown Nashville as…
Gingerbread monolith delights San Francisco on Christmas Day
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In true pop-up art fashion, a nearly 7-foot-tall monolith made of gingerbread mysteriously appeared on a San Francisco hilltop on Christmas…
Pirates’ Polanco breaks wrist in winter ball, OK for spring
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco broke a bone in his right wrist playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. The Pirates said…
Tri-county area reports 70 cases, 3 additional deaths
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Thursday announced 70 new cases of COVID19 were reported from the tri-county area, as well as…
Weather-related crashes reported in area
From staff reports Over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day several vehicles were involved in weather-related incidents in Venango and Clarion counties. A Venango County 911…
Downtown Nashville explosion knocks communications offline
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A recreational vehicle parked in the deserted streets of downtown Nashville exploded early Christmas morning, causing widespread communications outages that took…
Pirates trade slugger Josh Bell to Nationals
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Bell embraced everything about being a Pittsburgh Pirate. He understood as the club retooled following the departure of stars Andrew McCutchen…
Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch sold to billionaire
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle. Burkle views the 2,700-acre property…
Recent Deaths 12/26/20
Rhea Jean Knappenberger, 100, of Knox, died Dec. 24, 2020. Valjean Marie Gilbert Silvis, 91, of Tionesta, died Dec. 23, 2020. Joseph Michael Sires, 66,…
Pet of the Day 12/24/20
Cinnamon is as sweet as her name, with people. She doesn’t seem to like other female dogs. When you hear about her past you might…
Walnut Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
(Family Features) For many families, spending special moments with loved ones feels more important than ever this year. Whether you’re spending the holidays with family…
OC man wanted in drug case taken into custody
From staff reports Sugarcreek Borough police took a man into custody Wednesday who was wanted for his alleged involvement in a drug ring that sold…
Green bulbs always a good sign on Cherrytree fire hall wreath
By DILLON PROVENZA Staff writer A Christmastime tradition at the Cherrytree Township Volunteer Fire Department station challenges residents to “keep it safe” during the holiday….
Wolf seeks $145M fund shift to help businesses with pandemic
HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday proposed spending $145 million in reserves from a worker’s compensation fund to help the hardest-hit businesses cope…
Steelers Roethlisberger on slide: “I need to play better”
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger, the father of three young children, used a very father of three young children word to describe why he’s come…
Review: Pixar’s ‘Soul’ joins mid-life crisis, jazz fantasia
The Associated Press Pete Docter’s “Soul” features stairway-to-heaven visions of the afterlife, a pre-birth “before” realm where souls are glowing turquoise orbs and an in-between…