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(Rick Miller/Olean Star) John Burrell, the last of the Case Family making knives in his Ellicottville shop, displays a collectible knife is a glass topped rosewood case.Burrell, the mayor of Ellicottville, and dozens of others will be selling their knives this weekend at Village of Knives at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds. Burrell will also be selling knives of his late wife, Sheila.

‘Village of Knives’ celebration in Little Valley this weekend

July 10, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — The Village of Knives Celebration this weekend at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds is 150 years in the making. In the late 1800s and

Dr. Kevin D. Watkins, Cattaraugus County Public Health director.

Spraying mosquito larvicide in June paid off with big drop in adult mosquitos

July 8, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Complaints about mosquitoes in late May and early June and high mosquito larvae counts prompted Cattaraugus County lawmakers to authorize aerial spraying. The

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) A cowboy participating in the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo Sunday gets ready to rope a calf.

Ellicottville Championship Rodeo draws record crowds of 11,000

July 8, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — More than 11,000 people attended the 35th annual Ellicottville Championship Rodeo that ended Sunday. The rodeo draws about 350 athletes from around the

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The new Memorial Trail in the Valentine Flats area of Zoar Valley opened Wednesday. Above is an example of the trail going around a tree, although scores were cut to construct the trail.

New handicapped accessible trail opens at Zoar Valley

July 7, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star GOWANDA — A new handicapped accessible trail opened Wednesday at Valentine Flats at the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area, the New York State Department of

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Allison Fiut, an attorney for Harris Beach working for the City of Olean on the redevelopment of the Oleran Center Mall speaks to the Common Council Tuesday. The council later voted to use eminent domain to lift lease restrictions on mall stores to facilitate redevelopment.

Aldermen approve eminent domain resolution for mall to drop anchor stores’ lease restrictions

January 14, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — The Olean Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to help the Olean Center Mall owner to more quickly redevelop it into a multi-purpose, mixed-use

(Assembly photo) Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski will hold a town hall meeting in Salamanca Feb. 17.

Sempolinski criticizes Hochul for not mentioning Seneca Gaming Compact in State of State Address

January 14, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ALBANY — As Gov. Kathy Hochul was winding down her State of the State Address Tuesday Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, realized she hadn’t mentioned a

TUESDAY ROUNDUP: Neff’s 24 falls in vain; Portville boys outgunned by Gowanda

January 13, 2026

KANE, PA — Despite Peyton Neff’s shooting showcase and 24 points, the Smethport girl’s basketball team was unable to steal a win on the road, losing to Kane 60-43. Throughout

Bona men’s hoops looking for defensive response against guard-heavy St. Joe’s

January 13, 2026

By SPENCER BATES batesoleanstar@gmail.com ST. BONAVENTURE — Following its loss to Fordham on Jan. 10, the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team currently stands as the only Atlantic 10 team to