Olean Star

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Bona women’s hoops hope to embrace ‘enthusiasm of the unknown’ in A10 tournament

March 3, 2025

By SPENCER BATES batesoleanstar@gmail.com HENRICO, VA — For the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team, from here on out, it is win or go home. The regular season has reached its

(Gofundme) This photo shows the late Zach Golley with his wife, Emily and their daughter Bailey.

Ellicottville man dies after his truck is struck by a train

March 3, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — An Ellicottville village employee who was critically injured when a train struck his truck last Thursday died Saturday at Erie County Medical Center. Zach Golley,

(Ricki Miller/Olean Star) Members of the striking Collins Correctional Facility corrections officers were at strike headquarters earlier this week outside the prison on Route 62 north of Gowanda.

Cattaraugus County lawmakers back striking corrections officers

March 3, 2025

EDITOR’S NOTE: The union representing striking New York State corrections officers and the Department of Corrections and Community Safety agreed to terms to end the strike on Friday. Many COs,

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Randy Sprague, owner of Sprague Maple Farms watches over a valve that releases sap from the plastic tubing into a tank behind Sprague’s Restaurant.

Flowing sap a sweet sound at Sprague’s Maple Farms

March 3, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star PORTVILLE — Sprague’s Maple Farms has produced its first maple syrup of the 2025 season. With several warm days earlier this week, the taps started running through

(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) Kids and their parents look for candy shot out of the candy cannon at Pumpkinville on Sunday of opening weekend.

Pumpkinville opens for 30th year in its current Great Valley location

September 18, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star GREAT VALLEY — Pumpkinville opened this past weekend for its 30th year at the current location. If you count the years when the original Pumpkinville was run