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

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Hinsdale Valedictorian Tyler Richards (right) and Salutatorian Peyton Keller stand in front of a Bobcat mural at the school’s main entrance Friday night. Twenty-eight seniors graduated in the school auditorium.

28 seniors graduate at Hinsdale commencement exercises Friday

June 28, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star HINSDALE — Twenty-eight seniors graduated during commencement exercises at Hinsdale Central School Friday night. Senior Class President Braedyn Kenjockety gave the invocation and welcome. Peyton

Braden Slater celebrates with his South teammates after scoring one of their team's six touchdowns in the 10th annual Varischetti All-Star football game. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

D9 South pummels North in annual Varischetti All-Star game; evens series with 39-point win

June 28, 2025

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com BROCKWAY, PA – Dominating on both sides of the Frank Varischetti All-Star game gridiron, the South team pulled off a silencing 45-6 victory as they

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) This airplane owned by Duflo Spray Chemical Co., parked at the Great Valley Airport, has been spraying mosquito larvicide across wetland areas in southern Cattaraugus County due to the high number of mosquitoes from heavy rains this spring.

Aerial larvicide spraying to bring mosquito relief

June 27, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Relief from those pesky mosquitos is on the way in towns along the Allegheny River valley and its tributaries. Duflo Spray Chemical Co. brought its

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Cattaraugus County administrator Jack Searles (left), is received a citation Wednesday from County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, on his retirement after 22 years in the post.

Searles attends last Legislature meeting as county administrator capping 46-year county career

June 27, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — Jack Searles is only the second county administrator for Cattaraugus County. He is retiring at the end of this month. Searles received