Franklin High’s ‘Great Eight’ take on Flannery O’Connor
By BETH PFOHL Staff writer At Franklin High School, AP English and the “Paradise Lost” trial are synonymous. The trial is the culmination of four…
An Ant’s Eye View: Appreciating the Small Things
Too often do we, as humans, get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As we rush to dry our hair or…
Jackson Twp. stolen ATV
Canal Twp. theft
Vehicle strikes deer in Washington Twp.
Polanco powers Pirates to 12-1 romp
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Gregory Polanco hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-best five runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates rolled by the Arizona Diamondbacks…
Search called off for missing Parker teen
From staff and wire reports PARKER – A search was called off Tuesday afternoon for a 15-year-old Parker girl who was reportedly last seen after…
CDC to offer free lunch program at 18 sites
From staff reports For the eighth straight summer, Child Development Centers (CDC) will offer its Lunch Time free lunch program for children and teenagers at…
Wolf pushes gas pedal on letting stores sell gas and beer
HARRISBURG (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf wants Pennsylvanians to be able to buy six-packs of beer and gasoline in the same place, despite a pending…
Penguins defeat Lightning, 5-2, to force Game 7
TAMPA, Fla. — The Penguins talked an awfully good game in the day or so leading up to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final….
Prosecutor: ‘Shield’ actor taunted wife before killing her
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An actor who played a police officer on TV was upset because his wife wanted a divorce and taunted her before…
Recent Deaths 5/25/16
Richard Allen Downey, 74, of Lynchburg, Virginia, died May 22, 2016. Donald F. Shultz, 85, of Emlenton, died May 23, 2016. Ronald L. Fink, 65, of Oil City,…
Penguins’ starting goalie in tonight’s Game 6 will be…
TAMPA, Fla. — Matt Murray will be the Penguins’ goaltender for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final tonight. Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed his decision…
Cosby ordered to stand trial in decade-old sex case
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on sexual assault charges after a hearing that hinged on a decade-old police…
Cops: Parker girl, 15, gone after playing horseshoes
PARKER, Pa. (AP) — State police say they’re searching for a 15-year-old Pennsylvania girl reportedly last seen after she went into some woods to retrieve…
Forensic expert: EgyptAir human remains suggest explosion
CAIRO (AP) — Human remains retrieved from the crash site of EgyptAir Flight 804 have burn marks and are very small in size, suggesting an…
Pet of the day 5/24/16
Name: Jenny Breed: Domestic shorthair Mix Age: 1 year Sex: Female Size: Small Color: Black and Grey Declawed: No House-trained: Unknown Jenny can be found…
Coming soon to Twitter: More room to tweet
NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter is giving users more room to express themselves. In coming months, photos, videos and other media won’t count against what…
School threats could be latest in school “swatting”
DENVER (AP) — Threats made against schools across the United States led to the evacuation of students Monday in what could be the latest example…
A watchful eye
Wildlife always casts a watchful eye toward someone with a camera. This week the hummingbirds continued to visit, a bunny has been spotted around the…
2 men plead guilty to interstate burglary spree
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Two men prosecutors say stole nearly $2 million worth of merchandise from stores across the U.S. have pleaded guilty. Federal prosecutors…
Vehicle strikes utility pole in Mercer County
Irwin Twp. drug possession
St. Patrick students work on service project
From staff reports Seventh- and eighth-grade students at St. Patrick School in Franklin worked with Mustard Seed Missions and Catholic Rural Ministries on a service…
DEP official’s private email had urged advocates for ‘pushback’
HARRISBURG (AP) – In an email that precipitated his resignation, Gov. Tom Wolf’s environmental protection secretary criticized environmental advocates for a lack of “pushback” against…
Penguins goaltending decision won’t be made until today
The Associated Press Coach Mike Sullivan offered little clarity to the team’s goaltending situation before the Penguins left Monday afternoon for Tampa, Fla., telling reporters…
Ginger Zee shines on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ despite injury
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ginger Zee’s ailing back didn’t seem to affect her much during the first half of the two-night season finale of ABC’s…
Recent Deaths 5/24/16
Betty K. Umstead, 71, of Franklin, died May 22, 2016. Rose M. Dunkle, 66, of Wallaceville Road, died May 23, 2016. John E. “Jack” Egan, 89,…
Officer acquitted on all charges in Freddie Gray case
BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore officer was acquitted Monday of assault and other charges in the arrest of Freddie Gray, dealing prosecutors a second straight…
Center Twp. theft
Cranberry DUI
Pirates’ Vogelsong hit in head by pitch, leaves game
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was hit in the head by a pitch in the second inning and left the game against the…
Chewbacca Mom’s infectious laugh draws more than 135M views
NEW YORK (AP) — A Texas woman who spontaneously donned a Chewbacca mask she bought for a Facebook video says she “feels like she deserves…
Ridgway Twp. criminal mischief
Pet of the day 5/23/16
Name: Pecan Breed: Doberman Pinscher mix Age: 5 years Sex: Female Size: Large Declawed: No House- Trained: Unknown Pecan can be found at Venango County…
Ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza collapses on stage, dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Menza, former drummer for the influential metal band Megadeth, died after collapsing on stage during a performance of his progressive…
Obama lifts decades-old arms ban in visit to Vietnam
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday lifted a half-century-old ban on selling arms to Vietnam, looking to bolster a government…
Golden years
Three adoptable dogs at the Venango County Humane Society in Seneca are looking to spent their golden years in a loving home. Yogi Bear, Bittles…
Fox Twp. criminal mischief
Ridgway Twp. public drunkenness
Pirates, Rockies postponed to today
PITTSBURGH (AP) – On the diamond, Juan Nicasio demonstrated part of the problem with Pittsburgh’s rotation, allowing a pair of quick extra-base hits Sunday. Off…
Police catch three escapees from Pathways
From staff reports Three juvenile males escaped from Pathways Adolescent Center Sunday afternoon. Oil City police said that the three of them were caught on…
Cranberry Elementary students get safety lesson
From staff reports Nearly 200 Cranberry Elementary School students spent a portion of Friday afternoon outside learning about summertime safety. The program was a reward…
No contamination found from pipeline explosion
GREENSBURG (AP) – Spectra Energy says third-party soil and water tests have turned up no contamination from a massive natural gas pipeline explosion in western…
Lightning stun Pens in OT
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Tampa Bay Lightning are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Tyler Johnson deflected Jason Garrison’s…
Madonna, Stevie Wonder pay tribute to Prince at Billboard
The Associated Press Madonna closed Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards paying tribute to Prince with the help of Stevie Wonder, ending the night with “Purple Rain.”…
Recent Deaths 5/23/16
Blair P. McCurdy Sr., died May 21, 2016. George M. Harris, 53, died May 22, 2016. Mary Joan Bagnato, 94, of Fredonia, formerly of Oil City, died May…
Crash in Utica
I-80 Accident
Solar-powered plane lands in Ohio after flight from Oklahoma
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A solar-powered airplane has touched down in the Ohio hometown of two of America’s most well-known aviation pioneers on the latest…