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(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

Police identify body of man found in Front Street dumpster

September 3, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Police have identified the body of the man found Friday in a recycling dumpster behind Jim’s Park and Shop on First Street. The

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Ward 6 Alderman Vernon Robinson Jr., served as acting Olean Common Council president Tuesday in the absence of Alderman John Crawford, D-Ward 5. The council voted for a 40-year PILOT for a 60-unit People Inc., apartment complex.

Olean alderman OK 40-year PILOT for new 60-unit apartment complex

August 29, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — The Olean Common Council agreed Tuesday to a 40-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement for a new 60-unit apartment complex to be

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Harmful algae blooms of blue-green algae have closed Red House Lake and Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park going into the last week of summer. This sign is at the water line on Red House Lake beach.

Harmful algae blooms close lakes in Allegany State Park

August 29, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star RED HOUSE — Both Red House Lake and Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park remain closed this weekend due to harmful algae blooms. Heading into the

(Rick Miller - Olean Star) Goalie Dominic Cavallo of Allegany snags a puck Monday during the first skate and shoot of the 2024-25 season at the William O. Smith Recreation Center.

Olean ice rink opens early for start of 2024-25 season

August 29, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — The William O. Smith Recreation Center’s ice rink opened for the 2024-25 season on Monday — the earliest opening in its 45 years. Why