Around The County

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The Venango County Economic Development Authority was updated on the county’s recycling center at the panel’s monthly meeting Tuesday. Jason…

By STACEY GROSS Contributing writer The Cranberry Township Economic and Development Committee heard updates Tuesday on the Cranberry Mall, an upcoming outdoor expo, and the…

From staff reports Franklin has announced the winners of its “Get Lit” Christmas home decorating competition. The first-place winner is Michael Fulmer of 726 Grant…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Oil City is undergoing extensive renovations. The renovations to the sanctuary include painting and…

By STACEY GROSS Contributing writer A rash of viral videos on Thursday sparked large responses at school districts nationally, including in the Oil Region. A…

From staff reports Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) will revise the fixed route bus fare and bus pass structure in Venango and Crawford counties effective…

From staff reports The Franklin Fine Arts Council, Franklin Retail & Business Association, and Galaxy Federal Credit Union announced the winners of their Franklin Downtown…

From staff reports On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the approval of $33 million for 25 rail freight improvement projects that will enhance freight mobility…

Laura Reasoner Jones, right, was awarded the National Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award for excellence in founding and dedicating years of service…

From staff reports Pennsylvania State Police are warning residents to be vigilant about scams involving peer-to-peer payment applications (apps) like Zelle, Venmo, and Cashapp. A…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Oil City Council members unanimously approved the city’s 2022 budget at their final meeting of the year on Thursday. The…

From staff reports The three libraries in the Oil Region Library Association will be gradually making the switch to RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology in the…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer At its reorganization meeting on Monday evening, the Oil City School Board swore in six board members — two newly…

By JAMIE HUNT Contributing writer State and local government officials, representatives from the Oil Region Alliance and the Oil City Main Street Program, along with…

From staff reports The annual In the Nick of Time campaign, a community project designed to provide area teenagers with holiday gifts, is underway. The…

From staff reports Fallen leaves will be picked up by Franklin city workers next week in the following areas: Monday — Franklin Heights. Tuesday —…

From staff reports The annual In the Nick of Time campaign, a community project designed to provide area teenagers with holiday gifts, is underway. Gifts…

From staff reports With so many challenges this year, staff members at TGIF Solutions — McMahan Brothers Insurance say they want to make sure hunger…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer A holiday food drive to benefit Community Services of Venango County and the Oil City Salvation Army will be held…

From staff reports The 2021 Venango County Conservation Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Venango Campus’ Rhoades Center…

From staff reports The state Department of Health announced updated hours for two free, drive-up COVID-19 testing sites in Crawford and Jefferson counties. In Crawford…

By STACEY GROSS Staff writer In-person programming is still going on at local libraries, with both ongoing programs and changing offerings for school-aged youth. Annie…

From staff reports Venango County Human Services’ Community Support Services, along with the United Way of Venango County, will hold their annual Christmas voucher distribution…

From staff reports Here are the leaf pick-up schedules next week for Oil City and Franklin: Oil City Monday — Innis, Orange, Division (West Front to…

From staff reports H. Josephine Beach, a resident of the Oil City Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, will celebrate her 103rd birthday Saturday. She was born…

By SYDNEY HERDLE Contributing writer About 100 volunteers braved the cold Saturday morning to help those in need this holiday season during the annual Friends…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The best way to proceed with the 100 Seneca at Cornplanter Square project in Oil City was the focus of…

From staff reports Franklin The Franklin Street Department will pick up leaves with the vacuum machines next week in the following areas: Monday: Greentree area…

From staff reports Bridge Builders Community Foundations will not conduct its Week of Giving campaign in 2022. A press release from Bridge Builders said that…

From staff reports Future Leaders and Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX), the young professionals organization of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, hosted its annual meeting Friday…

From staff reports Three Franklin Area School District teachers will receive grants to enhance their classrooms. The grants were announced at the district’s school board…

By STACEY GROSS Staff writer Valley Grove School Board approved a number of items at its combined work session and regular meeting Monday. Two benches…

From staff reports The Diocese of Erie has been notified that the first level of appeal that was presented for multiple parishioners of the former…

From left, Amber Shay Nicholson, Junior Schubert Club counselor, stands with Emma Fleming, president; Hannah Nicholson, vice-president; Miles Jenny, secretary; and Calvin Jenny, treasurer, on…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Venango County commissioners unanimously approved a tentative 2022 county budget Tuesday that doesn’t include a tax increase. The tax rate…

From staff reports Local churches are collecting shoeboxes full of gifts for children around the world for the annual Operation Christmas Child program. Samaritan’s Purse…

From staff reports Franklin will hold its annual holiday Light-Up Night on Saturday, Nov. 20. The event features a parade, fireworks, music, and more. The…

Second-, third- and fourth-grade students at Seventh Street Elementary School in Oil City, under the direction of their art teacher Pamela Marterella, created a huge…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The Oil City Fire Department distributed about 600 coats for children in need to all the school districts in Venango…

From staff reports A new television show that has been airing over the last week and a half on the A&E network is taking another…

From staff reports The average price of gasoline throughout the tri-county area is above the western Pennsylvania average of $3.58, according to AAA East Central’s…

From staff reports The Venango Archaeology Chapter will meet at 7 p.m. Friday at the Christ United Methodist Church, 1135 Buffalo St., Franklin. Chuck Williams…

By STACEY GROSS Staff writer The United Way of Venango County now has 5,000 more ways to impact vaccine hesitancy in the county. The agency…

From staff reports Franklin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1835 will offer a free lunch to local veterans on Thursday, which is Veterans Day. Veterans…

From staff reports The City of Franklin street department will pick up leaves with its vacuum machines next week in the following areas: Monday — Gurney…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Are you looking for something fun to do this fall? Have you ever considered axe-throwing? A new form of entertainment…

From staff reports The annual Pajama Project coordinated by Christ Episcopal Church of Oil City is celebrating its 10th season this year. Sarah Margherio, a…

From staff reports National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. is requesting a rate increase of about $6.50 in the monthly bill of a typical residential customer….

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer A popular mural on Oil City’s South Side is being replaced due to damage from the elements over the past…

From staff reports The Oil City Arts Council is going back in time for an evening during a Roaring ‘20s speakeasy event next month at…