Youths enjoy Horses for Healing camp
Kira Kapp, of the Venango Area Riding for the Handicapped Association, works with a group of young people Wednesday during the Visiting Nurses Association’s Horses…
Around The County
Venango Chamber takes Be Here campaign to highway billboards
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer A promotional campaign called “Be Here” and aimed at convincing people to”live, work and play here” in Oil City…
Pipeline Alley concerts moving to evenings
From staff reports The Pipeline Alley concert series in Oil City will take place in the evening instead of the afternoon starting next week. Beginning…
Vision Bowl provides big boost for Blind Association
From staff reports The Venango County Association for the Blind held its annual Vision Bowl awareness fundraiser last week at Seneca Lanes, and the event…
Youth Connection in need of mentors
From staff reports Youth Connection is seeking mentors to support local youths, ages 6 to 18, in need of positive influence. The program makes matches…
Patriotism this summer at OC pool
Jacob Kuney, right, and all the lifeguards and staff at the Oil City municipal swimming pool have been opening the pool this summer by standing…
OC couple plan car wash for woman battling cancer
From staff reports An Oil City couple who own a business in the city’s East End are holding a charity car wash Sunday to help…
PLCB approves Franklin noise ordinance
By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer A noise ordinance that will give downtown Franklin businesses a little leeway when hosting music events was approved this week…
Woman expands her Franklin clothing business to Oil City
A local resident has expanded her clothing and accessory business in Franklin to include an Oil City store. Shannon Curtis opened S Threads Boutique last…
Venango County Fair starts today
The Venango County Fair starts today, and animals and their handlers will be settling into their stalls, pens and campers. The fair will feature daily…
Majority of region sees decrease in jobless rates
June statistics from the state Department of Labor & Industry show almost all of the region’s counties with a drop in their respective unemployment rates…
Extensive rebuild starting at Franklin McDonald’s
The Franklin McDonald’s at 13th and Otter streets will become a hub of construction activity as workers will demolish and rebuild the store in what…
Heritage Festival art show winners announced
Here is a list of winners from the Oil Heritage Festival art show: Best in show Hannah Niederriter – Amidst the Artistry of Autumn People’s…
St. Stephen festival winners announced
Here is a rundown of winners from the St. Stephen Church festival held over the weekend as part of Oil Heritage Festival activities: – Big…
Old voting machines hauled away
Venango County’s 171 old voting machines were hauled away from the courthouse Monday. In mid-March, the county commissioners, at the recommendation of the county election…
Nominations being accepted for Greenways Awards
The public is invited to nominate individuals, groups, companies or organizations for the annual Greenways Awards, presented by the Council on Greenways and Trails (CGT)…
Newspaper seeks details for Back To School edition
The newspaper will publish its annual Back to School edition Tuesday, Aug. 13. The edition features school term calendars and bell schedules for area school…
Venango County issues statement on available aid for flood victims
Venango County officials are working to compile a listing of flood-related damages resulting from the heavy rains last Friday and Saturday. Tim Dunkle, director of…
Caution urged on river near cables
From staff reports Boaters on the Allegheny River are being urged to use caution when traveling on the waterway near the railroad bridge at Siverly….
Officials hope to save troubled park
By RANDY BARTLEY Staff writer A financially troubled industrial park in Butler County may have implications for Venango and Clarion counties as well. The Allegheny…
Back to School Hair Affair event scheduled Aug. 19
From staff reports The United Way of Venango County will partner with area hair stylists and PA 2-1-1 to hold the inaugural Back to School…
Bridge Builders sets up donation funds
From staff reports Bridge Builders Community Foundations has established two funds for anyone who would like to assist those affected by the weekend’s heavy rains…
Judges named for Heritage Festival art show
From staff reports Judges for the Oil Heritage Festival art show have been announced. The judges are: — Marcy Hall – adult division/non-photography — Maureen…
Heritage Festival, as usual, offers new events, music and old faves
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Some new events and many old favorites are coming to Oil City’s Oil Heritage Festival next week. New to the…
Special Olympics puts out call for volunteers
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Coordinators of Special Olympics programs that serve Venango, Forest and Clarion counties say they need more volunteers to help with…
PennDOT announces lane restrictions at 2 sites
From staff reports Two projects are forcing lane restrictions on Raymilton Road in Mineral Township and Atlantic Avenue in Franklin. Traffic is restricted to one…
Oil City business re-opens
Grazing workshop scheduled next month in Franklin
From staff reports Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council will co-sponsor a grazing workshop Friday, Aug. 16, at the John Holden Farm near Franklin….
PennDOT completes West First Street work
From staff reports Seal-coating work that took place on West First Street in Oil City on Monday is complete, according to the Pennsylvania Department of…
Weller hopes attendance age change will reduce dropout rates
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The compulsory school attendance age in Pennsylvania has changed, Oil City Superintendent Lynda Weller told Oil City School Board members…
Conservancy plans Allegheny River cleanup
From staff reports The Allegheny Valley Conservancy is planning its 2019 Allegheny River cleanup and is looking for volunteers to help. The conservancy and its…
Discovery leads to story about how Vietnam era soldier died
By RANDY BARTLEY Staff writer Oil City resident Steven Klinger was cleaning out the basement of a home in Oil City that he was remodeling…
Bike rodeo planned in Oil City
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Venango Area Chamber of Commerce and Venango County Sheriff’s Department will hold a free children’s bicycle rodeo…
Volunteers from area headed back to Iowa
From staff reports Area farmers and other volunteers are heading back to Iowa to help with cleanup following the devastating flooding that began in early…
PennDOT updates plans for bridge project
From staff reports PennDOT has updated its plans to rehabilitate a bridge that carries Miller Farm Road over Oil Creek in Cherrytree and Oil Creek…
Petroleum Street bridge work starts
Crews were busy Tuesday working on the deck of the closed Petroleum Street bridge in Oil City. The span is expected to be closed again…
Cranberry students to attend STEM forum
Abigail McCain and Sarah Milford, both students at Cranberry Elementary School, will attend Envision’s National Youth Leadership Forum titled “Pathways to STEM” next week at…
Commission gets funding to expand broadband connectivity
From staff reports The Northwest Commission, a member of the Local Development District Association of Pennsylvania, received funding through support of the state legislature and…
Students earn award
Hasson Heights Elementary School awarded fourth graders David Whitmer and Madelyn Garland the Good Citizenship Award. They received a certificate from state Sen. Scott Hutchinson….
Union Street railroad crossing work will start Monday
From staff reports Work will start Monday to install a new railroad crossing at Union Street in Oil City. The crossing area will be closed…
PennDOT sign moved away from memorial after brouhaha
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The erection of a sign on an upcoming bridge project in Oil City was the subject of a brief…
Petroleum Street bridge to be closed next week
From staff reports The Petroleum Street bridge in Oil City will be closed next week while repairs are made. The short-term closure of the bridge,…
Antlerless licenses to go on sale Monday
From staff reports Antlerless deer licenses will go on sale Monday for Pennsylvania residents. Hunters who wish to apply for an antlerless deer license must…
Work starts on West First Street
PennDOT flagger Greta Melton helps keep the traffic moving through the paving project along West First Street in Oil City on Monday. The crew expects…
Fundraiser set up for boy hurt in bike crash
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer A fundraiser set up on Facebook to help the family of an 11-year-old Oil City boy who was injured Sunday…
Rotary replaces welcome signs
Oil City Rotary Club members replaced three welcome signs that are posted along roadways entering Oil City. The club, which will celebrate its 100th year…
Oil City pool party set Sunday
From staff reports The South Side Neighborhood Association will hold its annual Oil City Community Kids’ Pool Blast from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at…
Senior citizens can register for free food box program
From staff reports Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is offering a free food box program for residents age 60 and older in the…
Atlantic Avenue project will start soon
From staff reports A project to repave Atlantic Avenue in Franklin will start next month. The project will include the full length of Atlantic Avenue…
Food pantry to be held in Emlenton
From staff reports Chapel on the Hill in Emlenton will host the Second Harvest mobile food pantry from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July…