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(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Student cell phones and other internet-enabled devices will not be permitted during school which starts the 2025-26 school year next week. Local school districts will require students to keep cell phones in their lockers from bell to bell.

Area schools are prepared for state cellphone bank this week

September 1, 2025

By RICK MILLER OLEAN STAR Local students returning to area schools next week will be facing a major change in lifestyle — a school day without cell phones or other internet access.

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Deputies (from left) Andrew Schumaker and Rachel Zimmer were presented commendations from County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr (right) for their life-saving efforts involving a West Valley man in shock from numerous bee stings on July 26. Others are Sheriff Eric Butler (third from left) and Undersheriff Nate Root.

Life-saving deputies honored by Legislature

September 1, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — Two Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies who were instrumental in saving the life of a West Valley man who was in shock after being stung

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Only a few dead fish were visible in Ischua Creek from the Coal Chutes Road bridge on Thursday. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating a significant fish-kill and aquatic animal die-off in the creek downstream from the village of Franklinville.

State agencies probe Ischua Creek fish-kill from Franklinville village

September 1, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star FRANKLINVILLE — The state Department of Environmental Conservation and Cattaraugus County Health Department are investigating a significant fish kill in Ischua Creek in and downstream from the

(Photo provided) Rep. Nick Langworthy speaks at a press conference at Field of Dreams on Tuesday where he highlighted his sponsorship of the Energy Choice Act that would prevent state and local governments from restricting home energy heating by natural gas.

Langworthy blasts Hochul natural gas ban, promotes his Energy Choice Act bill

September 1, 2025

ALLEGANY — Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23) held a press conference Tuesday at a new home construction site in Allegany to spotlight the urgent need for his Energy Choice Act —

(Facebook) Olean Police and firefighters responded Tuesday night to a drive-by shooting on Seneca Avenue.

Eleven-year-old Olean boy shot in leg in Seneca Avenue drive-by shooting

October 16, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star UPDATE – OLEAN — An 11-year-old boy was shot in the leg in a backyard in the 1300 block of Seneca Avenue about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday. The

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Linda Mecca (right) removes a cover from the memorial for her husband Trooper Joseph J. Mecca Jr., is a memorial dedication ceremony Sunday in front of the Olean State Police Substation on Homer Street in Olean. Retired Sgt. Heidi Riley had just unveiled a memorial to her late husband Trooper Ross M. Riley. Both troopers' deaths were in the line of duty.

Memorial to fallen state troopers dedicated outside Olean substation

October 15, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Nearly 100 people attended the unveiling and dedication of a memorial to fallen New York State Troopers from the Olean Substation outside SP Olean on

(Facebook photo) An Allegany County man died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound after crashing his pickup truck into the front of the Seneca Gaming and Entertainment casino on the Oil Springs Territory.

Allegany county man crashes truck into casino, dies from shotgun blast

October 15, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star An Allegany County man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he crashed his pickup truck into the Seneca Gaming and Entertainment casino on the Seneca Nation’s

Photo by Hunter O. Lyle Otto-Eldred’s Carrie Drummond celebrates with her teammates after a kill during the Lady Terror’s sweep of Smethport.

Lady Terrors breeze by Lady hubbers, eye league banner

October 15, 2024

By HUNTER O. LYLE DUKE CENTER, PA – As they blaze through the final weeks of the regular season, the Otto-Eldred volleyball team picked up another clean sweep, this time