News – Olean Star

Always Local. Always Free. Olean Local News

Always Local. Always Free.

CONTACT US: Oleanstar@gmail.com

Latest News

(Olean Fire Department) Fire broke out at this house at 311 N. Sixth St., late Friday morning. There were no injuries. The cause remains under investigation.

City firefighters stretched thin responding to house fire on North Sixth Street Friday

February 6, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star City of Olean firefighters were stretched thin late Friday morning

Rick Miller/Olean Star) Cattaraugus County voters who wish to change their political party have until Feb. 14 to be able to vote in the June 23 primary.

Board of Elections notes Feb. 14 deadline to change party enrollment

February 6, 2026

LITTLE VALLEY – The Cattaraugus County Board of Elections reminds all registered voters that Saturday,

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) David Smith (right), who was re-elected preident of the Cattaraugus County Board of Health Wednesday, is congratulated by Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins.

Board of Health sees sticker shock in rising vaccine prices

February 5, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Members of the Cattaraugus County Board of Health

All Charges Dismissed with Prejudice.

OLEAN PRINCIPAL JEFF ANDREANO CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES: Prosecutor and Judge agree there was no proof to support charges against Andreano.

February 4, 2026

By: Eric Firkel Olean Star – firkeloleanstar@gmail.com City Court Judge George Panebainco dismissed all charges

(Olean YouTube Channel) Olean Common Council Finance Committee Chairman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4 (right) and Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7 atTuesday's meeting. The Council learned bed tax revenues since June 1, 2025 total $214,000.

Eye-popping bed tax revenue has aldermen raising eyebrows

February 4, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Members of the Olean Common Council heard brief updates on

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Cattaraugus County Sheriff Eric Butler is critical of Gov. Hochul's proposed Local Cops, Local Crime Act that would prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE.

Sheriff calls Hochul ‘a fool’ over bill to ban NY law enforcement from ICE pacts

February 3, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced a bill last week that would

This is a screenshot from Facebook Thursday of law enforcement in North Olean someone suggested were ICE agents. Olean Police said that was not the case. It was a joint Federal-State Fugitive Task Force which made two arrests in the city of Olean.

Joint task force, not ICE, was seeking fugitives in Olean Thursday morning

February 27, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — A joint task force of federal and state

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Adam Chudy (right) of Westons Mills, was commended by Cattaraugus County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr (center) Wednesday for saving a New Albion man from a fire Feb. 11. Chudy, a count snowplow driver, was working when he saw the house on fire and called 911 and helped the man from his house. At left is Public Works Commissioner Michael Prinino.

County snowplow driver commended for saving man from house fire in New Albion

February 26, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star LITTLE VALLEY — A Cattaraugus County snowplow driver credited with

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Accountant Christopher Zera of R.A. Mercer & Co., presented an audit of the City of Olean's finances for 2024-25 Tuesday. While there were defiencies in reconciling financial data, the city's finances are sound, he said.

Olean aldermen hear audit report of city’s 2024-25 finances; set budget review starting Thursday

February 25, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star The Olean Common Council reviewed the independent audit of the

(Photo provided) Aaron Gies of Olean (right) was endorsed for the 23rd Congressional District seat by the Cattaraugus County Democratic Committee on Sunday. Also endorsed was Victoria Guite (left) of Genesee County for the 57th State Senate seat. Mandy Bushnell, Cattaraugus County Democratic Party chairwoman, is at center.

Gies receives endorsements for Congress from Democratic committees in five counties

February 24, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Democratic congressional candidate Aaron Gies of Olean announced