Around The County

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…

From staff reports Atlantic Avenue in Franklin will be closed to through traffic during the day Wednesday through Friday so PennDOT can do paving work,…

Brookville – 5:30-8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1 Canal Twp. –  6-8 p.m., Oct. 31 Clarion Borough – 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2 Cranberry – 6-8…

By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The Oil City Zoning Hearing Board faced a quandary at a session Monday as an Oil City couple asked…

By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Boldness, transformation, commitment to community and hope were some of the key themes that ran through the speeches Friday at…

From staff reports The City of Franklin street department will begin to pick up leaves in paper biodegradable bags on Friday. Residents may put their…

From staff reports Rocky Grove Middle/High School sent two teams last week to the 16th annual Venango County Youth Retreat at Camp Coffman, and one…

Franklin state police trooper Michelle McGee and other local law enforcement officials participated in Wednesday’s Coffee with a Cop Day, a national effort for law…

From staff reports The Oil City Fire Department will conduct its annual Coats for Kids drive Friday in downtown Oil City. Members of Oil City…

Students in the culinary arts class at Venango Technology Center are making apple dumplings that will be sold during Franklin’s Applefest celebration later this week….

Oil City Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center was recently recognized as a Center of Excellence for Wound Management by VOHRA Wound Physicians. The Oil City center…

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer Pam Nicodemus said the prevalence of ADHD is so high that it is often called the “common cold” of mental…

By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Franklin Area School District teachers will now need the district’s approval if they wish to raise money via crowdfunding, as…

By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer The Cranberry Area High School Robotics Club and members of the school’s gifted classes watched Penelec employee Joe Zacherl demonstrate…

Students at Sandycreek Elementary School in Franklin celebrated Johnny Chapman Day by welcoming Johnny Appleseed (Chris Kovacs) to their classrooms. The special visitor handed out…

From staff reports The combined Oil City and Cranberry homecoming festivities will step off today with a parade, bonfire and pep rally. The parade, led…

From staff reports Thirty-three films were screened at the fourth annual Oil Valley Film Festival held Sept. 6-9 in Oil City. The annual festival was…