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(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

(Photo provided) Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski held his first town meeting as the 148th Assembly District representative at the John J. Ash Center in Olean Thursday night.

Sempolinski holds first town meeting in Olean Thursday attended by 60

March 3, 2025

OLEAN – More than 60 people attended Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski’s first town hall meeting Thursday at the John J. Ash Community Center in Olean. “We had a great turnout and

Salamanca boys hoops complete 18-point comeback, down Falconer 60-58 in B2 Quarterfinal

March 2, 2025

By SPENCER BATES batesoleanstar@gmail.com SALAMANCA — “If that’s not the greatest comeback in Salamanca basketball history, I don’t know what is.” Salamanca boys basketball coach Adam Bennett was left with

(City of Olean YouTube) Outgoing Olean Common Council President John Crawford (left) hands gavel to Ward 6 Alderman Vernon Robinson Jr., who was elected the first Black common council president. Crawford has taken a new job and stepped down as council president, but will continue as Ward 5 alderman.

Vernon Robinson Jr. elected first Black council president

August 13, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Ward 6 Alderman Vernon Robinson Jr., was elected Olean Common Council Tuesday after then-president John Crawford, D-Ward 5, resigned the post. Robinson, an

Going into the 2025 season, the Bradford football team returns 12 varsity Owls. Pictured here is Logan Kohler (front, left to right), Kaden Kicior, Matt DeCasper, Tommy Langdon, Kolton Miller, Lucas Wallace, Blake Callihan (back, left to right), Sean Ward, Kaleb Mackey, Braylon Little, Jacob Abers and Andrew Giordano. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Owls implement new offense as they fill gaps, sustain development

August 13, 2025

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com BRADFORD, PA – Progress isn’t formed over night. It takes time, continuous dedication and rigorous trials and errors and while the Bradford football team has

(Photo provided) Stan Cizdziel of West Valley, who was in anaphylactic shock after getting stung repeatedly by bees on July 26 while cutting trees hugs Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Zimmer last week, thanking her for rushing to the scene with an Epi-pen that brought him out of shock. At left is Sheriff Eric Butler.

Cattaraugus Sheriff’s deputies save lives with EpiPen program

August 12, 2025

On July 26th, Stanley Cizdziel was cutting trees with a friend when they encountered a hive of bees, Cattaraugus County Sheriff Butler reported. As they dropped the chainsaw and ran

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Steve Langert of Pleasant Valley holds a Triumph Master Grip trap, a collector’s item he values at $550 at the 45th annual Cattaraugus County Trappers Association Sportsmen’s Rendezvous last weekend at the county fairgrounds in Little Valley.

Sportsmen’s Rendezvous boosts trapping, hunting and camaraderie

August 12, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — For those who think fur trapping is a bygone era, several thousand people attending the 45th Cattaraugus County Trappers Association Sportsmen’s Rendezvous