New club helps children develop their coding skills
From staff reports A new club focused on scripting and designing websites and games has formed at the Oil City Library. “The Code Club is…
Around The County
Holidays over; new election cycle already in focus
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The decorations are put away, the cookies are eaten, the toasts to a new year have been shared and…
State Historical and Museum Commission taking applications
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is accepting applications from nonprofits and local governments for the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program….
‘Tell the Good News’
On Dec. 13, Immaculate Conception Parish School presented their annual Christmas Program. This year’s theme was “Tell the Good News,” under the direction of music…
Students to help in Ecuador
Members of the Titusville High School Student United Way and Rotary Interact Club will head to Quito, Ecuador, in March to distribute shoes, meals and…
Seats are still available for March for Life bus
Seats are still available on a bus traveling to Washington, D.C., for the 46th annual March for Life and rally on Friday, Jan. 18. The…
Penn State offers ‘Toss Your Hat in the Ring’ workshop
From staff reports For all those people who have ever thought about serving on their school board, borough council or township board here’s your chance…
Holiday closings
From staff reports The following closings will be observed because of the New Year’s Day holiday: — Franklin City Hall will be closed Tuesday. Garbage…
Donation center, store to open
By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer A Franklin woman, with the help of her family, will open a donation center and secondhand store in the building…
DCNR officials to join hikers at state parks
From staff reports Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials will lead hikers at several parks across the state as the agency sponsors free guided…
National Fuel projects next winter’s purchased gas cost for customers
From staff report National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. has submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission its required annual purchased gas cost projection for purchases…
State police make 330 DUI arrests over holiday
From staff reports Pennsylvania State Police arrested 330 people for driving under the influence during the four-day Christmas holiday from Dec. 22 through 25. The…
Workshop planned on safety at houses of worship
From staff reports A joint workshop sponsored by the Clarion County Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security focused on making local…
St. Stephen Christmas play
St. Stephen School’s third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students presented a Christmas program that was an adaptation of the play “Once Upon a Christmas” by Dee…
Artists invited to enter items for Nature Art Showcase
From staff reports The Fourth Annual Nature Art Showcase and Sale will be held inside the Barrow-Civic Theatre lobby during Franklin On Ice on Feb….
Oil City tree gets attention
Christmas has come and gone, but a little tree in Oil City is still keeping the season bright – literally. Soon after Denny Mylarski’s decorated…
Daffodil Days sales to begin in the new year
From staff reports The American Cancer Society is holding its annual Daffodil Days from Jan. 1 through Feb. 5. The flowers will be ready for…
Franklin leaf pickup
From staff reports Wednesday: Leaf Piles in the Miller Park areas. Thursday: Leaf piles in the Miller Park and 2nd Ward areas Friday: Bagged leaf…
Grinch at it again
A Christmas pillow fight at Cranberry Elementary School was disrupted by the Grinch. Fortunately, state police Trooper Matthew Shiley, who never misses out on a…
Rocky Grove ‘giving tree’ helps family in need
From staff reports Rocky Grove High School students, teachers and staff responded this month to a “giving tree” project that provided Christmas gifts for the…
Franklin students’ auction to help Humane Society
By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Franklin Junior/Senior High School art students are once again looking to bring some holiday cheer to the Venango County Humane…
Wrapped up in a good cause
Oil City High School junior Ryan Kalamajka said it was the first time he helped out with Jamie’s Kids and the first time he really…
Veterans at OC facility get gifts
Kim Mitchell presents a Christmas gift Friday on behalf of the Disabled American Veterans to Air Force veteran Jim Rogers, a resident of the Oil…
Santa supports troops
Joe Deal started donning a Santa suit a couple of years ago during December to attract a little more attention and give some holiday spirit…
Leaf pick-ups continue in Franklin
From staff reports The City of Franklin street department will pick up leaves with its vacuum machines next week, weather permitting, in the following areas:…
Reports indicate OC PNC branch is closing
From staff reports Reports were swirling Thursday that the PNC Bank at 248 Seneca St. in Oil City’s North Side business district will close in…
Drive will benefit Franklin school district’s Care Closets
From staff reports The United Way of Venango County and Lepley Bus Service are coming together to sponsor a winter clothing drive for local students…
Clintonville fire company holding public meeting
From staff reports Clintonville Volunteer Fire Department will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. today at the fire hall to discuss funding with elected…
Public meeting set Tuesday to discuss Titusville bridge project
From staff reports PennDOT and its consultant, McCormick Taylor, will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Titusville…
Toys for Tots participants need photo ID, birth certificate
From staff reports Venango County Toys for Tots will hold its Christmas toy distribution from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Oil City VFW….
Valley Grove student’s toy drive is Saturday
By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Three years ago, Valley Grove student Josie Seely had $80 in her pocket and a desire to deliver presents to…
Volunteer drivers needed to transport cancer patients
From staff reports Volunteer drivers are needed in the local area for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery Program. The local Cancer Society chapter…
OC native enters semi-finals of screenwriting competition
Matt Croyle’s pilot episode script for ‘Circle, Michigan’ has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Hollywood Casting and Film Screenwriting Competition. If chosen as…
Franklin leaf pick-ups continue next week
From staff reports The City of Franklin street department will pick up leaves with its vacuum machines next week, weather permitting, in the following areas:…
Franklin Sheetz renovations due to be done next week
By SARAH TITLEY Staff writer Completion of renovations at the Sheetz on Liberty Street in Franklin are scheduled to be completed on time, according to…
Family-owned specialty shop opens in Franklin
A new family-owned business that specializes in selling antiques, furniture, home decor and artificial flower arrangements among its unique goods has opened in Franklin. Downtown…
Venango Catholic Schools Association moving forward
From staff reports The newly created Venango Region Catholic School Association has moved forward with plans for the future as it recently appointed its full…
Grove board approves hiring 2 sheriff’s deputies for schools
By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer Valley Grove School Board on Monday unanimously approved an agreement to hire two Venango County sheriff’s deputies to patrol the…
McFadden re-elected OC school board president
By JIM MEYER Staff writer Joe McFadden was re-elected president of the Oil City School Board at Monday’s board reorganization meeting. Vice president Fred Weaver…
OC library group sets fundraiser
From staff reports The Friends of the Oil City Library are sponsoring a fundraising event at the library. Tickets, priced at $1 each or six…
Community Christmas Buildshop set Dec. 15
From staff reports The annual Community Christmas Buildshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Clarion University’s Venango Campus…
Red Cross blood drives to be held in Franklin
From staff reports The Red Cross plans on holding two blood drives in Franklin. The first blood drive will be held from 1 to 6…
Franklin leaf pick-up schedule for Dec. 3-7
From staff reports The Franklin street department will pick up leaves with the vacuum machines this week in the following areas: – Oak Hill area…
PennDOT announces winner of ‘Paint the Plow’ contest
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that the Venango County regional winner of the “Paint the Plow” safety outreach contest is…
Bus trip planned again for March for Life
From staff reports Pennsylvanians for Human Life is sponsoring a bus to Washington, D.C., to attend the 46th annual March for Life and rally which…
Local woman to celebrate 99th birthday
Eunice Slye was born on Dec 3, 1919, the fifth child in a family of 11 children. Her mother and father were Harry and Ruth…
Tree of Hope
Charles Stevenson and Gayle Oxenham, members of the Helping Hands Relay for Life team of Venango County, decorate the American Cancer Society’s Tree of Hope…
Keeping the neighborhood shoveled
Elaine Armstrong says she had children for 20 of her 29 years on Wyllis Street in Oil City who would do most of the sidewalk…
Chief: Harder to keep volunteer companies running
By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer Like so many other things in today’s world, keeping a small town’s volunteer fire department up and running is getting…
County plans food distribution program
From staff reports The Venango County Emergency Food and Shelter Program will sponsor a county-wide food distribution in December. Items will include ham, milk, apples,…