Franklin manager tells council financial picture still clouded
By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Despite certain financial numbers looking up, city manager Tracy Jamieson told Franklin City Council members Monday the bigger picture is…
2020
Game Commission will reopen Franklin office on Friday
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Game Commission will reopen its Northwest Region office in Franklin on Friday. The commission will also reopen shooting ranges on…
State tops 3,000 virus deaths as data are reconciled
HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania reported another 554 deaths from the coronavirus to pass 3,000 total, while Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday that he is not…
Planning normal season, NFL still forms ticket refund policy
The Associated Press While planning to play a full regular-season schedule, the NFL has formulated a ticket refund plan for canceled games or those held…
Obama will headline televised prime-time commencement
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the high school Class of 2020 during an hour-long…
Recent Deaths 5/6/20
Stacy Lynn Barton, 45, of Franklin, died May 3, 2020. Olive Geraldine (Gerry) Hood, 97, died May 4, 2020. William D. Kuhner, 86, of Dearborn,…
Breakfast Salad Bowl
(Family Features) The spring season brings to mind flowers blooming and plants springing back to life, making it the ideal time to enjoy fresh produce…
Pet of the Day 5/5/20
Bear is looking for a confidence booster, ie. you. He is a sweet and shy guy who loves cuddling on the couch and scarfing down…
Man charged with attempted murder in hospital incident
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer A Clintonville man is facing felony charges, including attempted murder, for strangling a UPMC Northwest employee on Saturday. A criminal…
CDC will reopen sites next week with strict protocols
From staff reports Child Development Centers has begun the process of reopening its Department of Human Services-licensed centers in Venango and Crawford counties. After careful…
State tops 50K with virus; rate of new cases declines
HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania passed 50,000 reported coronavirus infections on Monday, but the rate of spread has slowed and health officials say the state should…
NFL moving London, Mexico City games back to US
The Associated Press The NFL is moving its five games scheduled for London and Mexico City this season back to U.S. stadiums because of the…
Nicolas Cage to star as Joe Exotic in limited TV series
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Joe Exotic phenomenon keeps growing, with Nicolas Cage to star in a TV miniseries about the colorful wild animal owner…
Recent Deaths 5/5/20
Russell Barger, 88, of Washington Township, Butler County, died May 3, 2020. For complete obituaries, pick up a copy of The Derrick for this…
Rotisserie Chicken-Biscuit Casserole
(Culinary.net) Almost nothing says comfort food quite like a freshly baked casserole. Next time your family asks for a warm, comforting meal, try this Rotisserie…
Pet of the Day 5/4/20
Sasha is a gentle, loving old girl who just wants a comfortable bed and someone to play ball with her. She has not shown much…
May 8 is the 75th Anniversary of VE Day
Victory in Europe, generally known as VE Day, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s…
State outlines plan for park, forest facilities
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has released a plan for a phased reopening of state park and forest…
Couple gets drive-by parade
From staff reports A vehicle parade celebrating the 50-year wedding anniversary of Franklin residents James and Susan Ring drove through the streets of Franklin Saturday…
COVID-19 vaccine hunt heats up globally, still no guarantee
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of people are rolling up their sleeves in countries across the world to be injected with experimental vaccines that might stop…
Virus death toll tops 2,440 in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG (AP) — There were 26 new deaths associated with the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, bringing the total in the commonwealth to 2,444, state officials said…
McIlroy, Johnson headline charity match for COVID-19 relief
The Associated Press Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson headline a $3 million charity match for COVID-19 relief that will mark the first live golf on…
Recent Deaths 5/4/20
James C. Carone, 89, of Titusville, died May 3, 2020. Gay Eustice, 84, of Rimersburg, died May 2, 2020. Mary Jane (Spencer) Hook, 88, of…
County looks to get multimodal, Cornplanter work back on track
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Two Venango County construction projects in downtown Oil City – Cornplanter Square and the multimodal transportation hub – came to…
Community Services donations have increased
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer Financial donations to help purchase food pantry items have picked up at the Community Services of Venango County agency…
PA deaths associated with coronavirus reach 2,418
HARRISBURG (AP) — State health officials are announcing 64 new deaths associated with the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, bringing the total in the commonwealth to 2,418….
Secretariat wins virtual Kentucky Derby
The Associated Press Secretariat won a virtual Kentucky Derby against 12 fellow Triple Crown winners, 47 years after the chestnut colt won the real race…
Legal drama ‘All Rise’ adapts to pandemic for season finale
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The legal drama “All Rise” has become the first U.S. scripted television series to adapt the the pandemic by producing an…
OC employee Cook honored as he retires after 41 years
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer A motorcade of honking cars and cheering riders snaked past Rick Cook’s house on Oil City’s Englewood Avenue on…
Virus restrictions to be eased in 24 counties
HARRISBURG (AP) — About 1.5 million Pennsylvania residents will be able to freely leave their homes next week, and retail shops and other businesses will…
NASCAR to resume season May 17 with seven races in 10 days
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR plans to restart its engines with a flurry of races at two historic tracks. NASCAR said Thursday it is set…
Winfrey, Roberts appear in global virus relief livestream
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah Winfrey keeps updated with the coronavirus news, but she has often focused her attention more on the positive “acts of…
Recent Deaths 5/2/20
Mary Jane Hook, 88, of Franklin, died April 30, 2020. Don A. Clark, 92, died May 1, 2020 Lois K. Mays, 76, of Tionesta, died…
Caramelized Sweet Onion Hummus
(Family Features) Whether you’re hosting a houseful of guests or simply keeping your family’s hunger at bay before dinner, appetizers can be a home chef’s…
Pet of the Day
I was saying to myself just this morning, “Huey,” I said, “Huey, you know what you need? You need a person all your own.” So…
PUC approves plan for new ‘overlay’ in 814 area code
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted 4-0 Thursday to approve a year-long implementation plan leading to the start of a new “overlay”…
Route 8 work to start Monday
From staff reports All lanes of Route 8 southbound are expected to be closed from the intersection of Route 8 and the Polk Cutoff Road…
Governor prepares to relax mass restrictions in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf was preparing to announce Friday which parts of Pennsylvania will see some relief from his strictest orders for residents…
Little League World Series canceled for first time
WILLIAMSPORT (AP) — This year’s Little League World Series and the championship tournaments in six other Little League divisions have been canceled because of the…
‘Goonies’ cast, ‘Flintstones’ rescue TV viewers in pandemic
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Josh Gad had a notion about what might soothe the kid in him during a scary time and maybe do the…
Recent Deaths 5/1/20
Janet Lynn Hudock, 52, of Cochranton, died April 28, 2020. Ethel M. Lechner, 98, of Marble, died April 30, 2020. Charles J. Wilson, 82, of…
Taco-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
(Family Features) Maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes a variety of commitments, from exercising to eating right. However, serving up healthy meals doesn’t have to be…
Pet of the Day 4/30/20
January, a domestic medium hair, is a young female. She has pale green eyes and a beautiful orange coat. January likes gentle pettings and prefers…
Sugarcreek crash
Cranberry’s Virtual Spirit Week: A Time of Reconnection
By HANNAH NIEDERRITER Student contributor With the national lockdown and minimal interaction between people due to COVID-19, Cranberry Junior Senior High School’s Student Council and…
OC middle school students advance in competition
From staff reports A group of seven students from Oil City Middle School competed in a regional contest in a program titled “What’s So Cool…
Stamp Out Hunger food drive postponed
From staff reports The annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been…
Nursing homes stricken as death toll tops 2,000
HARRISBURG (AP) — COVID-19 has killed hundreds more Pennsylvania nursing home residents than was previously known, state health officials reported Wednesday, underscoring the threat at…
Leading plan for NHL return includes empty rinks
The Associated Press Get used to the concept of pods and pucks if the NHL is going to have any chance of completing its season,…
Netflix’s ‘The Half of It’ wins Tribeca Film Festival honor
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alice Wu’s “The Half of It,” a teenage spin on Cyrano de Bergerac, has won the top award from the Tribeca…