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(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne said Friday new state aid will help reduce the 18.6% tax rate in the proposed $23.2 million city budget.

Mayor not surprised at reaction to proposed 18.6% tax rate hike; new state aid to reduce it

February 21, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne wasn’t surprised at the negative

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne on Thursday presented a $23.2 million budget for 2026-2027 that carries a $3.31 tax increase or 18.6%.

Sherburne’s first proposed budget contains 18.6% property tax hike

February 19, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star In her first proposed budget, Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Common Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, and Finance Committee Chairwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, at a recent meeting. The 2026-27 city budget was three days late, but was not addressed Tuesday because it was not on the agenda.

Sherburne expected to submit proposed 2026-27 budget on Thursday, four days after it was due

February 18, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Each Feb. 15, the Olean mayor presents a proposed 2026-27

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Board discuss a proposed $6 million Olean brownfield cleanup project Tuesday.

Developer seeks IDA sales tax exemption on River Street brownfield cleanup

February 17, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — A local developer is proposing a brownfield cleanup

(City of Olean) The John J. Ash Community Center on North Barry Street will now be open as a warming center Sundays for Code Blue events to give people somewhere to keep warm. It is already open other days in days where the temperature drops below freezing.

John J. Ash Community Center open Sunday for Code Blue event

February 14, 2026

John J. Ash Community Center open Sunday for Code Blue event By RICK MILLER Olean

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) A group of people skate on the synthetic ice surface at the Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond, where a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting were held Friday in Salamanca.

Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond grand re-opening held in Salamanca Friday

February 14, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star SALAMANCA — The City of Salamanca’s Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Portville Senior Class President Zya Rayne DeGolier addresses her classmates and family and friends attending commencement exercises Friday evening in the school gymnasium.

81 Portville seniors graduate at commencement Friday

June 28, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star PORTVILLE — Eighty-one Portville Central School seniors graduated at commencement

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Hinsdale Valedictorian Tyler Richards (right) and Salutatorian Peyton Keller stand in front of a Bobcat mural at the school’s main entrance Friday night. Twenty-eight seniors graduated in the school auditorium.

28 seniors graduate at Hinsdale commencement exercises Friday

June 28, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star HINSDALE — Twenty-eight seniors graduated during commencement exercises at Hinsdale

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) This airplane owned by Duflo Spray Chemical Co., parked at the Great Valley Airport, has been spraying mosquito larvicide across wetland areas in southern Cattaraugus County due to the high number of mosquitoes from heavy rains this spring.

Aerial larvicide spraying to bring mosquito relief

June 27, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Relief from those pesky mosquitos is on the way in

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Cattaraugus County administrator Jack Searles (left), is received a citation Wednesday from County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, on his retirement after 22 years in the post.

Searles attends last Legislature meeting as county administrator capping 46-year county career

June 27, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — Jack Searles is only the second county