Olean Star

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Portville's Kingston Loucks sprints up field during the Panthers' 34-0 loss to Southwestern/Frewsburg on Thursday. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Portville drops second straight as offense, defense misfires against Trojans

September 18, 2025

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com SOUTHWESTERN, NY – Playing through growing pains that materialized in worries and woes on both sides of the ball, the Portville football team suffered their

(DEC graphic) This DEC map of the Great Lakes Cheese plant in Franklinville and Ischua Creek was shown at the Cattaraugus County Board of Health on Wednesday. Organic waste in treated water from the plant has been bland for a significant fish kill in the creek.

Watkins says local wells tested near Olean Creek not found contaminated

September 18, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star FRANKLINVILLE — While the discharge of organic material into Ischua Creek from the Great Lakes Cheese plant resulted in a significant die-off of fish and other aquatic

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Demonstrators outside the Great Lakes Cheese plant in Franklinville Friday protest the company’s contamination of Ischua Creek, which killed tens of thousands of fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Two protests last Friday outside Great Lakes Cheese plant

September 18, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star FRANKLINVILLE — Two groups of people demonstrated Friday outside the Great Lakes Cheese plant on Route 16 north of Franklinville, protesting discharges from the plant into Ischua

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The state Department of Environmental Conservation on Monday announced a $475,000 fine against Great Lakes Cheese for its August discharge of contamnants into Ischua Creek, which killed tews of thousnads of fish and othe aquatic life.

DEC will require cheese plant to pay to restore Ischua Creek

September 18, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star FRANKLINVILLE — Great Lakes Cheese will be required to restore Ischua Creek as part of any state enforcement action against the Franklinville cheese plant. State

Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins (shown here at a recent Board of Health meeting in Olean) was surprised, along with other public health professionals, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut the number of childhood vaccines on the recommended immunization schedule.

Public health director surprised CDC cut number of childhood vacines

January 23, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Like most other health professionals, Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins was surprised when the Centers for Disease Control and

THURSDAY ROUNDUP: Lady Owls down Brockway at home; Panthers take down Cardinals in overtime

January 23, 2026

BRADFORD, PA — Led by Haley Keane, the Bradford girl’s basketball team rallied late to outlast Brockway, picking up a second straight win as they improved to 5-7. Through the

Allegany-Limestone girls hoops outlast late challenge from Olean

January 23, 2026

By SPENCER BATES batesoleanstar@gmail.com OLEAN, NY — In a low-scoring affair, the Allegany-Limestone girls basketball team secured its fourth consecutive win, surviving a big test from Olean by a 33-29

Otto-Eldred's Rayel Hakes (10) and Lexi Prince (30) double-team an Oswayo Valley ball handler into a turnover during the Lady Terrors' 29-point win over OV. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Lady Terrors keep on rolling with 29-point win over Oswayo Valley

January 22, 2026

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com DUKE CENTER, PA – Continuing to wrestle their regular season schedule into submission, the Otto-Eldred girl’s basketball team tagged an ninth consecutive win onto their