Caring for a Living Christmas Tree
A living Christmas tree can be a great way to add a new tree to your landscape, provide a lasting memory, or allow you to…
$1M in grants to benefit Venango County projects
From staff reports The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) awarded more than $1 million in grants to projects in the 64th Legislative District, according to a…
Cranberry panel members air frustration about mall situation
By HELEN FIELDING Staff writer Frustration was running high about the continued limbo at the Cranberry Mall at Tuesday’s Cranberry Township Economic Development Committee meeting….
Hamas leader visits Cairo, a sign talks on another Gaza truce and hostage swap are gathering pace
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas’ top leader traveled to Cairo on Wednesday for talks on the war in Gaza, part of a flurry…
Trump banned from Colorado ballot in historic ruling by state’s Supreme Court
DENVER (AP) — A divided Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday declared former President Donald Trump ineligible for the White House under the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection…
Recent Deaths 12/20/23
Jacqueline (McCorkle) Morrone, 76, of Clarion, died Dec. 18, 2023. Lulu Belle “Tops” Hartzell, 89, of Knox, died Dec. 17, 2023. William Lee Clark, 79,…
Pet of the Day 12/19/23
Meet the dapper Donut! This handsome young lab mix is just under two years old and is 70 pounds of pure love and affection! Donut…
BLT Wraps with Avocado Spread
(Family Features) Planning and executing a more nutritious menu can often be thwarted by lunchtime cravings or busy weeknights that leave little time to cook…
Defeating The Holiday Blues
For many veterans, the holiday season intensifies feelings of stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness. Creating a community and building connections are ways to combat the…
Lots planned for OC First Night, including 2 fireworks displays
From staff reports Plans are moving ahead for the Oil City Arts Council’s annual First Night Oil City New Year’s Eve celebration. The festivities to…
Food distribution set Saturday in Franklin
From staff reports The Shepherd’s Green community food pantry in Franklin will distribute food from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday. The pantry is located at…
Illegal crossings surge in remote areas as Congress, White House weigh major asylum limits
LUKEVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — Hundreds of dates are written on concrete-filled steel columns erected along the U.S. border with Mexico to memorialize when the Border…
Crosby moves into 13th on NHL’s all-time scoring list as Pens overcome rally to edge Wild 4-3
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins went a month between power-play goals, a funk that sent them plummeting toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference….
Review: Auto pioneer Enzo Ferrari gets solid biopic but it doesn’t make heart race
The Associated Press Napoleon Bonaparte. Leonard Bernstein. Willy Wonka. Aquaman — there are a ton of Guy Movie Heroes out there as 2023 ends. And…
Recent Deaths 12/19/23
Ethan R. Johnson, 24, of Titusville, died Dec. 17, 2023. Mary Catherine (Aaron) Reinsel, 92, of Mayport, died Dec. 17, 2023. Betty Adams, 81, of…
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Pie
(Culinary.net) Some desserts deliver sweet taste that satisfies taste buds while others provide a rich flavor that lingers long after you’ve finished that last delicious…
Pet of the Day 12/18/23
Crazy Jimmy came to us as a little tiny baby stray so we don’t know much about him. Jimmy is quite the weirdo who loves…
Fundraiser set Wednesday for FHS legacy art collection project
By HELEN FIELDING Staff writer The second annual Franklin School District art collection fundraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the…
OC Elks presents program grant to Autism Stands
Oil City Elks #344 recently presented a $2,000 grant to the Autism Stands organization for the Blue Box food program. The Blue Box program works…
Love it or hate it, self-checkout is here to stay. But it’s going through a reckoning
NEW YORK (AP) — The promise of self-checkout was alluring: Customers could avoid long lines by scanning and bagging their own items, workers could be…
Storied US Steel to be acquired for more than $14 billion by Nippon Steel
The Associated Press U.S. Steel, the Pittsburgh steel producer that played a key role in the nation’s industrialization, is being acquired by Nippon Steel in…
‘Wonka’ waltzes to $39 million opening, propelled by Chalamet’s starring role
NEW YORK (AP) — “Wonka” debuted with $39 million in box office sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates…
Recent Deaths 12/18/23
Vaughn R. Long, of Mercer, died Dec. 15, 2023. Carolyn F. Stack, 89, died Dec. 17, 2023. Fred P. “Sonny” Buckholtz, 86, of Seneca, died…
Venango commissioners approve budget, hear strong plea for more library funds
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Venango County commissioners have given final approval to the county’s 2024 budget that does not call for a tax hike…
Franklin authority approves water, sewer rate hikes
By HELEN FIELDING Staff writer The Franklin General Authority unanimously approved its 2024 water and sewer budgets, with a rate increase, at its monthly meeting…
Israel faces new truce calls as errant killing of captives adds to concern about its wartime conduct
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s government faced local protests and calls for a cease-fire from some of its closest European allies on Sunday…
Jones gets shutout, Domi has goal and 2 assists as Maple Leafs beat Penguins 7-0
TORONTO (AP) — Martin Jones stopped 38 shots for his first shutout of the season, Max Domi had a goal and two assists, and the…
Six Pillars of Knowledge Economics
Continuing our investigation of knowledge economies from last week, let’s look at the six pillars of knowledge economics proposed in a paper by Carsten Brockman…
Franklin extends safe streets survey
From staff reports The City of Franklin has extended the submission deadline for its Safe Streets for All public survey until Jan. 5. The survey…
Scholarships awarded to top VTC nursing students
From staff reports Three students — Kevin Songer, Evan Bernard and Jamie Fetzer — have been recognized with scholarships for academic excellence in Venango Technology…
Jury awards $148 million in damages to Georgia election workers over Giuliani’s 2020 vote lies
WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation over…
Federal Reserve on cusp of what some thought impossible: Defeating inflation without steep recession
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was the most painful inflation Americans had experienced since 1981, when “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “The Jeffersons” were topping the…
Recent Deaths 12/16/23
Eugene L. Wagner, 75, of Franklin, died Dec. 15, 2023. Mary Kathryn Greenawalt, 68, of Knox, died Dec. 15, 2023. Melissa Ann Mays, 90, of…
Pet of the Day 12/15/23
These sweet seniors girls came to us when their owner sadly passed away. They are both very kind and gentle in disposition, and would love…
Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs
(Family Features) Making time for meals together can have a positive impact on the well-being of families, including children and adolescents. In fact, regular meals…
Franklin church to hold monthly free dinner
From staff reports The Franklin First United Methodist Church will hold its monthly free community dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the church’s…
Walk-through Bethlehem village scheduled
From staff reports Evangelistic Tabernacle of Cooperstown is once again open the doors to Bethlehem: A Live Walk-Through Village Experience, at the church property at…
US, Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The U.S. and Israel have discussed a timetable for scaling back intense combat operations in the war against Hamas, even…
Older Americans to pay less for some drug treatments as drugmakers penalized for big price jumps
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of older Americans could pay less for some of their outpatient drug treatments beginning early next year, the Biden…
Pennsylvania is in its Taylor Swift era, her home state decides
HARRISBURG (AP) — She’s Time magazine’s person of the year. She’s the most-played artist globally on Spotify. She’s helmed the first tour to gross more…
Recent Deaths 12/15/23
Darlene M. Ward, 72, of Oil City, died Dec. 12, 2023. Evelyn A. Towse, 95, of Clarion, died Dec. 14, 2023. For complete obituaries,…
Pet of the Day 12/14/23
Erin came to us as a stray so we don’t know much about her. She is very quiet and cuddly, who loves pets and attention….
Poblano Frittata
(Family Features) Making time for meals together can have a positive impact on the well-being of families, including children and adolescents. In fact, regular meals…
Route 157-Horsecreek Road online plans display available
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is inviting the public to an online plans display for a study to identify potential projects to…
Franklin High School to present Christmas concert
From staff reports Franklin High School will present a Christmas concert featuring senior high music ensembles at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school auditorium….
House OKs impeachment inquiry into Biden as Republicans rally behind investigation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican rallying behind the politically charged process despite…
State poised to give schools flexibility on minimum requirements
HARRISBURG (AP) — A bill that would give Pennsylvania school districts greater flexibility to have shorter school weeks or longer days, as long as students…
Crosby moves up scoring list, Harkins gives Penguins 4-3 win over Canadiens
MONTREAL (AP) — Sidney Crosby had Mark Recchi as a mentor when he entered the NHL 18 years ago. On Wednesday night, Crosby matched his…
Review: In harrowing ‘Zone of Interest,’ the Holocaust’s evils are cloaked in mundanities
The Associated Press It’s just a woman trying on a fur coat alone in her room, and sampling a lipstick. It’s just a few friends…
Recent Deaths 12/14/23
Vicki Lynn Hoffman, 72, of New Bethlehem, died Dec. 13, 2023. Darlene M. Ward, 72, of Oil City, died Dec. 12, 2023. James Morgan Campbell,…