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Ricki Miller/Olean Star The Domestic Building at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds was full of displays including firearms, fishing equipment lazer-cut images in wood and hunting accessories at the annual Sportsmen's Rendezvous in L:ittle Valley Friday. It is open through Sunday.

Buying, selling and storytelling at the Sportsmen’s Rendezvous

August 10, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — The three-day Sportsmen’s Rendezvous sponsored by the Cattaraugus County Trappers Association opened Friday at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds. There are indoor booths and

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The front of an East Otto fire truck is draped in a black bunting Wednesday in memory of Tim Lexer, a beloved local firefighter and former chief and a 911 dispatcher who died last week in an accident near his home. Police and fire vehicles escorted the hearse bearing Lexer's body from a funeral in Little Valley.

East Otto community honors Tim Lexer, dispatcher and firefighter

August 8, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star EAST OTTO — The East Otto community turned out Wednesday for fallen firefighter and dispatcher Tim Lexer as his body was escorted from a Little

Cattaraugus County Undersheriff Eric Butler

Acting Sheriff Butler nominated by GOP for Cattaraugus County Sheriff

August 7, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — Acting Cattaraugus County Sheriff Eric Butler was nominated by Monday by the Cattaraugus County Republican Committee to run for sheriff in November. Republican Chairman

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Sapraicone (second from right), met with Cattaraugus County GOP officials in Olean Friday. Others from left are Legislator Rick Smith of Olean; County Republican Chairman Mark Heberling and Legislator Steve Teachman of Olean.

Sapraicone visits Cattaraugus County in his bid to unseat Sen Gillibrand

August 7, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Mike Sapraicone sat in a booth at Green Acres last Friday with three Republican officials before heading off to his 11th county fair in

(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

The Otto-Eldred boys' basketball team celebrates with their new hardware after finally winning their long-awaited District 9 championship. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Destiny fulfilled: Terrors earn long-awaited D9 title with last-second win over ECC

March 2, 2025

By HUNTER O. LYLE lyleoleanstar@gmail.com CLARION, PA – Four years came down to 0.7 seconds. After constant failure and constant persistence, the Otto-Eldred boys’ basketball team’s dreams of capturing the