Heil now full-time Cranberry manager; zoning officer named
By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Eric Heil, who has served as both interim township manager and zoning officer for Cranberry Township the past four months,…
Live TV debate exposes Democrats’ differences in Senate race
HARRISBURG (AP) — The first live-televised prime-time debate between leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat exposed differences between the…
Possible mass graves near Mariupol as Russia attacks in east
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Mounds of dirt seen in satellite imagery that Ukrainian officials say indicate new mass graves highlighted the savagery of a war…
DeSmith has 52 saves, Guentzel scores 3, Pens top Bruins
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Casey DeSmith feels ready to step in as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltender for the playoffs if injured starter Tristan Jarry can’t play….
Vogelbach’s HR rallies Pirates past Cubs 4-3
CHICAGO (AP) — Daniel Vogelbach hit a two-run homer, Yoshi Tsutsugo had a two-run double and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Chicago Cubs 4-3…
Scorsese’s Film Foundation launches free virtual theater
NEW YORK (AP) — Film Foundation, the nonprofit founded by Martin Scorsese dedicated to film preservation, is launching a virtual theater to stream classic films…
Recent Deaths 4/22/22
William J. Spring, Sr., 67, of Erie, died April 12, 2022. John E. DeWoody, 75, of Dempseytown, died April 19, 2022. For complete obituaries,…
Bean, Tortellini, and Pesto Salad
(Family Features) Heading outdoors for a fresh, homemade meal is an alluring activity when warm weather and sunshine provide a perfect opportunity for dining on…
Pet of the Day 4/21/22
Charles is a sweet old man. He is very confused with his current situation. He needs a stable home that he can feel safe in….
Police investigating remains found in Oil Creek park
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Franklin state police are investigating the discovery of human remains that were found in Oil Creek State Park. The skeletal…
Franklin receives $1 million grant for Liberty Street improvements
From staff reports The City of Franklin has been awarded $1 million for safety improvements at the intersection of 12th and Liberty streets. The upgrades…
Putin claims Mariupol win but won’t storm Ukrainian holdout
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the strategic city of Mariupol on Thursday, even as he ordered his troops not…
Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and…
2 schools, 6 sets of sports teams: NCAA gives OK to merger
HARRISBURG (AP) — Sports teams at six state-owned Pennsylvania universities will still compete against each other despite merging into two umbrella institutions, the State System…
Woodruff dominates, Brewers beat Pirates for 3-game sweep
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brandon Woodruff pitched hitless ball into the sixth inning, Rowdy Tellez homered for the second straight day and the Milwaukee Brewers beat…
New Mexico fines film company over Alec Baldwin shooting
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico workplace safety regulators on Wednesday issued the maximum possible fine of nearly $137,000 against a film production company…
Recent Deaths 4/21/22
Cynthia Lou Smith, of New Bethlehem, died April 19, 2022. Patrice “Patti” Boyer Wabnitz, 62, of Pensacola, Florida, formerly of Oil City, died March 30,…
Pet of the Day 4/20/22
Cupcake is a female young adult. She is negative for fiv and leukemia, current on vaccines, and spayed. For more information on Cupcake, contact Tri-County…
Prune, Mozzarella and Basil Skewers
(Family Features) Supplementing meals and snacks with powerful, versatile ingredients can take healthy eating from bland and boring to delicious and adventurous. Take your breakfasts,…
Landscaping for Wildlife: Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
Landscaping for wildlife can restore critically needed habitat and beautify your yard at the same time. Many excellent native trees, shrubs, and vines offer four…
Venango DAR chapter honors good citizens
The Venango chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented local high school seniors with the National DAR Good Citizen Award based on essays…
PennDOT says fill dirt will be available
From staff reports Spring road maintenance season will be underway soon, and PennDOT’s Venango County maintenance office expects waste fill dirt will be available as…
Russia pressures Mariupol as it focuses on Ukraine’s east
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces pressured a stubborn pocket of resistance in Mariupol amid renewed hopes Wednesday for an evacuation of thousands of civilians…
Burnes earns 1st win of season as Brewers beat Pirates 5-2
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Three hits were all the Milwaukee Brewers needed to get reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes his first win of…
Review: ‘The Northman’ an ambitious, but lean revenge tale
The Associated Press The first sign that not everyone in Robert Eggers’ 10th-century Viking revenge tale “The Northman” has their priorities entirely straight comes early…
Recent Deaths 4/20/22
Robert Eugene Pullease, 83, of Decatur, Tennessee, formerly of Oil City and Vero Beach, Florida, died April 16, 2022. For complete obituaries, pick up…
Pet of the Day 4/19/22
Looking for a sweet and loving kitty who doesn’t cause trouble and goes about her day like no one is watching? Then Opal is the…
Picnic-wiches with Greek Artichoke Beet Salad
(Family Features) Heading outdoors for a fresh, homemade meal is an alluring activity when warm weather and sunshine provide a perfect opportunity for dining on…
VFW To Host Toxic Exposure Press Event in Kansas
On Tuesday, April 19, at 1 p.m., the VFW held a press event with a coalition of veteran organizations and veteran advocate Jon Stewart to…
Historical Society seeking yard sale donations
From staff reports The Venango County Historical Society is accepting items for its May Mart Yard Sale. Donations may be dropped off at the donor’s…
Starlite Xpress baton group sets registration
From staff reports The Starlite Xpress baton group will hold open registration and its first practice for the 2022 marching season Thursday at the Polk…
Cheers and fears as US ends mask mandates for travel
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge’s decision to strike down a national mask mandate was met with cheers on some airplanes but also…
Russia ratchets up battle for control of eastern Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia ratcheted up its battle for control of Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland on Tuesday, intensifying assaults on cities and towns along…
Mass shooting wave rattles communities large and small in US
The Associated Press Three mass shootings in the U.S. over the Easter holiday weekend capped a monthlong spate of gun violence that has touched both big…
Yelich’s slam sparks Brewers to 6-1 triumph over Pirates
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brewers’ hopes of making the playoffs for a fifth straight season depend at least in part on whether Christian Yelich can…
For ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series, a case of diminishing returns
The Associated Press “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” got off to a less than magical start in its first weekend in U.S. and Canadian…
Recent Deaths 4/19/22
Leonard L. Smith, Sr., 78, of Clarion, died April 13, 2022. William E. Kitchen, 66, of Knox, died April 15, 2022. Jacqueline “Jackie” Cralley, 73,…
Prune and Almond Truffles
(Family Features) Supplementing meals and snacks with powerful, versatile ingredients can take healthy eating from bland and boring to delicious and adventurous. Take your breakfasts,…
Pet of the Day 4/18/22
Cooper and Miles are 4-year-old male huskies. They are very friendly and would do good in a home with older children (6 and up). They…
Pittsburgh officials finding that barring parties at Airbnb rentals is a difficult task, despite strict ban
PITTSBURGH — Some properties rented through Airbnb can be so easy to acquire and inexpensive that they can be used for one-night parties and other…
Olofsson, Thompson each score twice, Sabres beat Flyers 5-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Victor Olofsson and Tage Thompson each scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 on Sunday to sweep a…
2 minors dead, 8 wounded in shooting at Pittsburgh party
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Shots fired at a house party in Pittsburgh early Sunday killed two 17-year-olds and wounded at least eight other people, police said….
No one injured in Sugarcreek area fire
By LUKA KRNETA News editor No one was hurt in a Sugarcreek area house fire on Friday evening in which eight fire departments were dispatched,…
Faithful gather for Good Friday cross walk
Franklin’s Good Friday cross walk was a day of prayer and reflection for the faithful, as the day included 14 stops at stations of the…
Russia bears down on Mariupol, strikes other Ukraine cities
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces pummeled a hulking steel plant that held the last pocket of resistance Sunday in Mariupol, a southern Ukraine city…
Bruins clinch playoff spot with 2-1 win over Penguins
BOSTON (AP) — Jeremy Swayman rebounded from a rough stretch with 23 saves and the Boston Bruins clinched a playoff spot by holding off the…
Chavis’ three hits power Pirates to 6-4 win over Nationals
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Michael Chavis capped a three-hit night with a leadoff triple in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals…
Police: 2 dead, several hurt in shooting at Pittsburgh party
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two people are dead and several more people are injured after a shooting in Pittsburgh early Sunday morning, police said. Pittsburgh police…
Invictus Games opens with Prince Harry tribute to Ukrainians
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Invictus Games competition for wounded, injured and ill service personnel and veterans opened Saturday night in the Netherlands with…
Franklin’s egg hunt a success
From staff reports Unlike last weekend, the weather cooperated and kids and their families turned out en masse for Franklin’s annual Easter egg hunt in…