Olean Star

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(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) Logan Goddard, 14, a 4-H member from Irving, speaks at the Cattaraugus County Fair Wednesday with county legislators and members of the Cornell Cooperative Extension board during a tour of the fairgrounds. His hog Fabio Sparklmane, lies at his feet.

County legislators tour fairgrounds, meet 4-H owners of animals to be auctioned

August 6, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — Several Cattaraugus County lawmakers toured the county fairgrounds in Little Valley Wednesday with 4-H members and officials. The legislators and members of

(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