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(Rick Miller/Olean Star) While most maple sap is collected by tubing, you'll see some old-fashioned maple sap buckets hanging on trees soon as the 2026 maple syrup season gets underway in the coming weeks. Tuesday's temperatures aren't enouggh to get sap moving just yet.

One day of warm weather won’t thaw maple trees and get sap running

February 10, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star PORTVILLE — Maple producers across Cattaraugus County and Western New

(Photo provided) Olean Police are seeking to identify this man who died after being stricken in Olean on July 14, 2023. A gofundme page has been set up to pay for DNA tests and genealogy research on Olean's John Doe.

Gofundme page is started to identify Olean’s John Doe

February 10, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Almost three years after an unidentified man died in Olean,

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

Sempolinski to host town hall meeting in Salamanca Feb. 17

February 9, 2026

SALAMANCA – Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski will hold his first town hall meeting of 2026 at

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) The 29th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 13-15. Go online to birdcount.org.

Join in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend

February 9, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County is urging

(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) State Sen. George Borrello (at podium) speaks at a press conference by Republican state lawmakers from Western New York over plans for early release of some non-violent inmates due to correctional facilities staffing shortages. On the left are Assemblymen David DiPietro and Paul Bologna. Senate Minority Leader Robert Ort is on the right.

Republican lawmakers blast plan for inmates early release

April 6, 2025

RICK MILLER Olean Star GOWANDA — Republican state lawmakers from Western New York blasted state

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Demonstrators line East State Street in front of Lincoln Park Saturday following a similar anti-Trump protest on West State Street earlier.

Two Olean demonstrations draw almost 300 Trump protestors

April 6, 2025

Rick Miller Olean Star Sign-waving demonstrators protesting a number of President Trump’s potential cuts including

(Olean YouTube Channel) Carlos Andres, 43, of Salamanca, is led from the March 25 Olean Common Council meeting where he was charged with disorderly conduct. He was to appear in Olean City Court Thursday, but was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Wednesday.

Charges arising out of City Council meeting dismissed in the interests of justice; Carlos Andres detained by ICE

April 4, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — A disorderly conduct charge against a man who attempted to

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Joe Augustyn of Olean spent the first day of trout fishing on the bank of Ischua Creek in Hinsdale.

First day of trout fishing is a dwindling tradition

April 3, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star For decades, Joe Augustyn of Olean has been among the Cattaraugus County