Around The County

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Venango County commissioners approved a tentative 2020 budget Tuesday that calls for a hefty tax increase. The proposed spending plan…

From staff reports Pickup of leaves will continue next week in Franklin, weather permitting. Here is the schedule: Monday: Miller Park. Also, bagged leaf pick-up…

From staff reports The Venango County treasurer’s office will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, for military personnel who were…

From staff reports The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has awarded grants to municipalitites in Venango and Clarion counties for park rehabilitation projects….

From staff reports The Oil City leaf collection schedule for next week is as follows: Monday – Wyllis (West Front to West First), West First,…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer Following a slogan of “have bakery, will travel,” a couple whose vocational talents have taken them across the U.S….

From staff reports The Oil City Heritage Society will hold a one-day T-shirt sale to benefit local nonprofit organizations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m….

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer The Venango County Conservation Hall of Fame, established in 2011 by the Oil City Chapter of the Izaak Walton League…

Victory Elementary School Principal Tom Holoman stands with the champions of the school’s spelling bee, which was held Thursday. They are fourth-grade winner Madyson Christy,…

Repairs on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Oil City’s Central Avenue plaza are nearly finished and will be done in time for Veterans Day…

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer Venango County veterans are praising a new program from Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA that provides them and…

From Staff Reports Members of the Venango PA Senior Environmental Corps took part in an oil well plugging operation at Oil Creek State Park. Rob…

From Staff Reports James M. Henderson Post 32 of the American Legion in Oil City will conduct its annual Veterans Day program Monday at the…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The simple belief that “every child deserves a good night” has yielded hundreds of new children’s pajamas and books…

From staff reports Flags for the Fallen, an event dedicated to the state’s military members who sacrificed their lives during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Enduring…

From staff reports Middle and high school students are invited to share their ideas about how to support agriculture in Pennsylvania as part of the…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer Venango County voters will cast their ballots Tuesday on an old-style paper ballot. While it sounds simple and easy,…

From staff reports Walk-in registration for the Venango County Toys for Tots campaign will be held from 10 a.m. to noon today at the Oil…

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

From staff reports Franklin High School will host its annual free breakfast for veterans at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the high school library….

By KARA O’NEIL staff writer The multimodal hub being constructed in Oil City will make public transportation more accessible in Venango County, according to Jason…

From Staff Reports A Franklin woman is facing 27 charges in connection with several fake checks allegedly written using the Trails to Ales Brewery’s bank…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Franklin Junior/Senior High School’s BEST Robotics team, N’ERGI, is heading to Denver for a chance at the championship title after…

From staff reports As the oil and gas industry thrived over the years in the Oil Valley, its success prompted a large number of Oil…

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer The Pathways in Education facility in Oil City has notified local school districts that beginning Nov. 1, it won’t be…

Franklin state police trooper Michelle McGee met with kindergarten through second-grade students at Sandycreek Elementary School to review important Halloween safety rules. Hands-on reminders for…

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

From staff reports Students at St. Stephen Elementary School in Oil City are participating in the Oct. 23-31 observance of Red Ribbon Week. The week…

From staff reports The Oil City High School guidance department has scheduled a financial aid night at 6 p.m. Monday for parents of students who…

From staff reports An open house will be held next month for people who are interested in enrolling in a Pathway to Manufacturing Trades class…

From staff reports Through a partnership with Citslinc International, the chamber is organizing a trip to China next year. The trip, which is scheduled Oct….

From staff reports Clarion University Eagle Ambassadors will hold a clothing drive event with a twist. The Nearly Naked Mile will begin at 10:30 a.m….

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Oil City School Board members listened to a presentation by The Nutrition Group, the school district’s food service provider, at…

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer Franklin Area School Board members heard Monday from a group of engaged and enthusiastic students about the classes and activities…

From staff reports People who are planning international travel can apply for a passport through the U.S. Postal Service via its retail customer appointment scheduler…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Autism Stands of Oil City is bringing local superheroes together for an epic battle of wits and agility to be…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer For the next two weekends, a new world will be just a drive away as the Wild Mountain Fantasy Festival…

From staff reports The Franklin Public Library is starting a new collection, but not of paper and ink. “We just thought we were a good…

From staff reports The PPC Violence Free Network and shelter is hosting three free self-defense classes in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The classes…

Jeff and Sue Melat, of Cranberry, were among the 120 grandparents who visited Christian Life Academy on Wednesday to participate in the school’s Grandparents Day…

From staff reports Valley Grove School Board on Monday hired Jamie Snyder as a secondary special education teacher. Snyder will move into an opening that…

From staff reports GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science), under the sponsorship of Bridge Builders Community Foundations, has received a $50,000 grant from the…

From staff reports The eighth annual Ella McNellie Toy Drive will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Cranberry Mall. The annual…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The Oil City Library’s “secret place,” a former auditorium/theater upstairs that was converted to an attic-type storage area decades…

From staff reports Ken Burkett, executive director of the Jefferson County Historical Society and field associate for Carnegie Museum, will present “On the Rocks at…

From staff reports Hydrant flushing will be done next week in Oil City from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Sunday night and continuing through…

From staff reports The second annual O.C.toberFest will be held today and Saturday in downtown Oil City. The event, coordinated by the Oil City Main…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The July 19 flash flood along Deep Hollow Road ripped apart Joe Eckel’s automotive business nestled beside Lower Two…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Two members of the Franklin General Authority heard updates on several projects at the panel’s monthly meeting Tuesday, but since…

From staff reports About 230 Oil City High School students went through the U.S. Army’s interactive exhibit, “Adventure Semi 8”, last week. The exhibit, which…