Around The County

By BRAD LENA Staff writer Franklin resident Bill Riddle says he likes to test himself, and over the last couple of years, his tests have…

Venango County Recycling Center director Erik Johnson demonstrates a vertical cardboard bailer to, from left, Maryjane Allen, of Reno, and Jenna Dillion and Caleb Williams,…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Students at Clarion University Venango Campus had a special lunch guest Thursday — Snoopy, an eight-year-old beagle mix. Snoopy came…

From staff reports Street sweeping will continue next week in Franklin and Oil City. Here are the schedules: Franklin Monday — third shift: Painters Alley, 11th…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Eric Heil, who has served as both interim township manager and zoning officer for Cranberry Township the past four months,…

From staff reports The City of Franklin has been awarded $1 million for safety improvements at the intersection of 12th and Liberty streets. The upgrades…

The Venango chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented local high school seniors with the National DAR Good Citizen Award based on essays…

From staff reports Spring road maintenance season will be underway soon, and PennDOT’s Venango County maintenance office expects waste fill dirt will be available as…

From staff reports The Venango County Historical Society is accepting items for its May Mart Yard Sale. Donations may be dropped off at the donor’s…

From staff reports The Starlite Xpress baton group will hold open registration and its first practice for the 2022 marching season Thursday at the Polk…

Franklin’s Good Friday cross walk was a day of prayer and reflection for the faithful, as the day included 14 stops at stations of the…

From staff reports Unlike last weekend, the weather cooperated and kids and their families turned out en masse for Franklin’s annual Easter egg hunt in…

Barriers have been in place most of this week around the former Franklin VFW building at 13th and Buffalo streets after bricks started to fall…

From staff reports Franklin Preservation will hold a program titled “Lost Amusement Parks of Northwestern Pennsylvania” from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at…

From staff reports Friends of Oil Creek State Park will hold their Chicks-in-the-Sticks event after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event…

From staff reports The annual Oil Creek Biathlon will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, in the cross-country ski area of Petroleum Center at Oil Creek…

From staff reports The Oil Region Astronomical Society will hold a virtual program at 7 p.m. Saturday featuring Kelly Lepo, who will talk about NASA’s…

From staff reports The Southern Venango Community Choir will present an Easter cantata titled “One Day” at 7 p.m. on Easter Sunday at the Kennerdell…

From staff reports The Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad and Oil Creek & Titusville Lines will offer a new train excursion for people who want…

By BRAD LENA Staff writer Jeff Rex, lead singer for the Franklin-based band Dead Level, said he “heard a lot of bands at last year’s…

By MAKAYLA KEATING Staff writer Franklin High School students are moving forward on their mural project as they print their design for the side of…

By BRAD LENA Staff writer Nearly 100 Sandycreek Elementary School students from kindergarten through sixth grade submitted 67 projects for judging at a school science…

From staff reports Northern Pennsylvania Regional College will host an open house event from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at Venango Technology Center…

From staff reports The Venango Youth Choir will present the musical “Kid’s Praise: An Explosion of Happiness” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Good Hope Lutheran…

From staff reports Pennsylvania State Police, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania National Guard and American Legion, is seeking applicants for its annual youth camp. The…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Many people might have been wondering when the Christmas tree that has been in Oil City’s Towne Square since November…

From staff reports The 55th Good Friday Laymen’s Service will be held Friday, April 15, in Oil City. Breakfast will open at 6 a.m. at…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer The Cranberry Area High School auditorium earlier this week was filled with the whirring sound of drones and robots, as…

HOLeY Jeans will present its annual concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin. The choir is made up of students in…

From staff reports Venango County has been awarded nearly $90,000 that can be distributed to agencies and organizations that provide food and shelter programs. A…

From staff reports A warning has been issued by state Rep. R. Lee James to backyard chicken owners to protect their flocks after the National…

From staff reports Cochranton Volunteer Fire Department will hold the first of two demolition derbies Saturday, April 23. The Spring Fling Demo Derby will be…

By BRAD LENA Staff writer Six Franklin Area High School students have qualified to attend the Academic Games Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. James Ivell, teacher…

From staff reports A couple of matters were discussed at Thursday’s brief Cranberry Township supervisors meeting. Eric Heil, the township zoning officer and interim township…

From staff reports Youths with an interest in fishing can get a jump on the state’s trout fishing season by participating in Mentored Youth Trout…

From staff reports Oil City’s annual Community Cleanup Day will be held Wednesday, April 20. Local businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals are invited to participate…

From staff reports A tour of the Petroleum Centre train station hosted by Oil Creek State Park will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m….

The Cranberry High School robotics team has qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, from May 5-8. Team members pictured here are…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Cranberry Economic Development Committee members discussed the former Cranberry post office property at the corner of Route 322 and Cranberry…

From staff reports The Oil Region Astronomical Society will hold a public night at 7 p.m. Saturday online via Zoom. The meeting will feature speaker…

From staff reports Franklin High School will host the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Region II Chorus Festival on Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25….

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The Venango County Economic Development Authority unanimously ratified two contracts for construction on 100 Seneca in downtown Oil City at…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Several topics of interest were discussed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Cranberry Economic Development Committee. The panel talked again about…

From staff reports The Barrow-Civic Theatre is gearing up for its first mainstage production of the 2022 season. Director Nicholas Hess and producers Jennifer Fox…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Oil City School District is moving ahead with spending close to $12 million in COVID grant funding from the state…

From staff reports Drake Well Museum will continue its Wisdom and Wine: Home in the Oil Region lecture series Thursday with a presentation by Jan…

From staff reports Oil City High School will present “The Addams Family” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 17-19, in the high school…

By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Angie Spaziani of Seneca and her family love looking for bald eagles. Two years ago this month, Spaziani saw three…

From staff reports The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is accepting nominations through April 1 for its Historic Preservation Awards. The awards…

From staff reports Friends of Drake Well is hosting a fundraiser race Saturday, May 21, at Oil Creek State Park. The “Meet-U in 5 and…