Around The County

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…

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…

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…

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…

From staff reports The Franklin Fine Arts Council is accepting audition packets for its annual Taste of Talent competition. While the council isn’t sure yet…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Franklin School Board members approved a number of financial matters during their virtual meeting Monday. In preparation for discussions on…

From staff reports The state Department of Environmental Protection began its 2020 black fly suppression program last week. The program involves aerial and backpack spraying…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer As informal parades become more and more part of daily life under social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, one local…

From staff reports Cranberry School Board will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Monday via a virtual platform. The meeting will be conducted…

From staff reports What is called the 2-1-1 service was launched by the United Way of Venango County in May 2017. It is available 24/7…

From staff reports The Cranberry Food Pantry will have a food distribution from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday at the former Cranberry High School. People…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer An Oil City School District principal will be retiring at the end of the school year. School board members on…

From staff reports The Northwest Hospital Foundation has taken to social media to promote a prayer chain for patients at UPMC Northwest hospital. The Foundation…

By DILLON PROVENZA Staff writer The Titusville-based Oil Creek Family Campground has some new owners. Penny and David Turner, who have operated the campgrounds for…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Cranberry High School students are inviting the community to join them this week as they celebrate a virtual school spirit…

By DILLON PROVENZA Staff writer Socializing at long term care homes when safety is a concern because of cornoavirus can be a challenge, but local…

From staff reports Several students from the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville were recognized during the 26th annual Student Life Awards ceremony Wednesday, which was…

From staff reports Applications are being accepted for the next funding round of the Northwest Commission’s Greenways Block Grant program for projects slated to advance…

From staff reports Oakland Township supervisors have changed the due dates for 2020 real estate taxes for township residents. Discount payments will be accepted through…

From staff reports Shepherd’s Green Community Food Pantry in Franklin will have its distribution from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 25. The distribution…

From staff reports The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is encouraging consumers across the state, especially those most vulnerable to social isolation, to understand the resources…

From staff reports The Oil City Ministerium has compiled a calendar listing for local food sources provided by churches in the city. The schedule was…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer With the backing of the federal government, the Franklin General Authority will enter the fight over who and what exactly…

From staff reports Community Services of Venango County offers a variety of services and programs, and that roster includes budgeting assistance. “We do life skills…

ATLANTIC (AP) — A northwestern Pennsylvania glass plant has announced plans to shut down one of its two glass-making production lines, resulting in layoffs to…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The Venango County Department of Aging is continuing to provide needed services during the coronavirus pandemic. “People are still receiving…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The health directive urging Americans to cover their faces to stop the coronavirus contagion has sent individuals scurrying to…

From staff reports The state Department of Labor & Industry is implementing new federal unemployment compensation benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer Susan Williams, CEO of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, recently got a call from a young medical student…

From staff reports The Catholic Diocese of Erie is in the midst of its Holy Week At Home initiative. Many pastors in the diocese have…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer One of Oil City’s most popular venues may not open this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. City officials…

From staff reports The annual Good Friday laymen’s service in Oil City will be held as scheduled, with some changes that were necessitated by the…

By DILLON PROVENZA Staff writer Experts say an uptick in tick bites can be expected following a nationwide growth trend with the bloodsucking parasites. “I…

From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has launched a statewide support and referral helpline staffed by caseworkers who will be available 24/7…

From staff reports Five local people have completed a 40-hour Penn State Extension Master Gardener educational program. The graduates include Linda Anderson, Susan Courson, Dave…

From staff reports Here are allowable activities and travel under Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order: — Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the…

From staff reports In-person recovery meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous throughout the area have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Numerous online…

From staff reports Oil City police are restricting access to the police station after someone claiming to have COVID-19 paid them a visit Monday. Chief…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Census Day is falling on April Fool’s Day today, but the census is no joke. Every home across the country…

The statue along the banks of the Allegheny River on Route 62 on Oil City’s South Side has donned a face mask as of late…

Erosion of Sugar Creek’s shoreline was encroaching on a building along South Main Street in Cooperstown on Monday. Last year, a storm started heavy erosion…

From staff reports Venango County 911 said strong storms Sunday resulted in several reports of flooded roadways, downed trees and downed wires in the area….

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Local police are taking precautions as they continue to serve their communities. There have been minimal changes to state police…

From staff reports Pastors at Good Hope and Zion Lutheran churches in Oil City brought cheer and goodie bags to church members this week. The…

From staff reports Portions of Venango County’s Two Mile Run Park are closed to the public as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Luke Kauffman,…

From staff reports Students in Cranberry Area School District have been advised that school officials are creating a plan for educational studies while the schools…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Teachers at Oil City’s South Side elementary schools and at Venango Region Catholic School are sending videos to their students….

From staff reports Cranberry School District has announced it has received approval to implement student meal service during the school closure. Beginning Thursday, families will…

From staff reports The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to…

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer The 2019 Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) show Venango County’s four school districts with relatively closely-aligned scores, while scores from Clarion…