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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

(Provided) The Hinsdale Envirothon team took first place honors at the recent Envirothon competition in Allegany State park. From left are: Tyler Parr, Envirothon coordinator and Soil and Water Conservation District field manager; Amaya Russell, Kaleigh Buckles, Peyton Keller, Brett Bergstrom, Robert Childs, lead advisor Warren Schulze and advisor Darren Norris.

Hinsdale takes back-to-back wins at county Envirothon

May 12, 2025

ALLEGANY STATE PARK — Hinsdale Central School repeated as back-to-back Cattaraugus County Envirothon Competition champions at the event’s 32nd edition held at Camp Allegany in the Red House Area of Allegany State Park

Sempolinski, Borrello blast record $254 billion budget

May 12, 2025

ALBANY — Both of Cattaraugus County elected state legislators voted against the 2025-2026 state budget of $254.3 billion Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, said he voted against the state budget because

(Cattaraugus County Health Department) This chart shows the dramatic decline in fentanyl deaths in Cattaraugus County over the past five years.

Dramatic drop in fentanyl deaths in Cattaraugus County continues

May 12, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Cattaraugus County opioid overdose deaths were down dramatically in 2024 and show signs — so far — of being lower again this year. Public Health

(Provided) A tick is embedded in a person's skin with a fingernail for size comparison.

Lyme disease awareness month: Take steps to prevent tick bites

May 12, 2025

RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — You, a member of your family or your pet may bring an unwelcome guest home on your next picnic or other outing — a tick