Olean Star

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(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

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean High School Valedictorian Aila Shoup addresses classmates, parents, family and school officials during her Valedictory Address Saturday at the 142nd annual Commencement in the high school auditorium.

Olean High School graduates 116 seniors at 142nd annual commencement Saturday

June 24, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — One hundred sixteen Olean High School seniors graduated Saturday in a sea of red robes and mortar boards at the 142nd annual Commencement

(Photo provided) It was a happy ending for a kitten stuck under a car hood Monday. From left are: Patrolmen Zack Spears and Joe Cottone; Sgt. Chris Lickfeld (holding the kitten) and Cordell Hill, an auto mechanic who helped remove panels so Lickfeld could grab it.

Olean Police officers help to rescue cat from under hood of woman’s car

June 24, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — A Bolivar-Richburg Central School teacher on her way to work on Monday heard a kitten meowing under her hood as she drove down

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Degaweno:da’s, a Seneca activist, kayaks past the Fourth Street pumping station outflow on the Allegheny River on Thursday. The night before, 200,000 gallons of untreated sewage overflowed from the station into the river.

Senecas threaten legal action on overflows

June 24, 2024

SALAMANCA – Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. asked the legal department to look into legal action against the City of Olean over its latest discharges into the Allegheny River.

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Degaweno:da’s, a Seneca Indian member of Defend Ohi’yo, departed from the South Union Street canoe and kayak launch Thursday morning to thank Olean city officials for taking steps to stop sewage overflows into the Allegheny River. He later found heavy rains Wednesday night had produced record sewage overflows into the river.

Allegheny River paddle by activist upstaged by big sewage overflow

June 21, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — For the Summer Solstice Thursday, Degaweno:da’s, a Seneca environmental activist, paddled his kayak on the Allegheny River from Olean to Allegany to recognize