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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

(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

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Bill Aiello and Mari Howard, InTandem CEO, were joined by other officials and individuals Thursday in a groundbreaking ceremony at Olean’s Marcus Park. The park is about to get a $2 million make-over.

Groundbreaking held for $2 million make-over of Olean’s Marcus Park

August 12, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Groundbreaking was held at Marcus Park Thursday for the $2 million project — including an inclusive playground, dog park, ball field and restrooms.

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Graph shows the number of Legionnaire’s disease cases in Cattaraugus County over the past decade. A county resident with Legionnaire’s disease is hospitalized in Buffalo.

Cattaraugus County man stricken with Legionaire’s disease is hospitalized

August 12, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — A Cattaraugus County man stricken with Legionnaire’s Disease has been hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital. Dr. Kevin D.