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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) Members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors met Tuesday to discuss projects worth more than $12.3 million.

New ready-mix concrete plant Planned for Homer Street, Olean

October 17, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — A Chautauqua County firm plans to build a

(Facebook) Olean Police and firefighters responded Tuesday night to a drive-by shooting on Seneca Avenue.

Eleven-year-old Olean boy shot in leg in Seneca Avenue drive-by shooting

October 16, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star UPDATE – OLEAN — An 11-year-old boy was shot in the leg

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Linda Mecca (right) removes a cover from the memorial for her husband Trooper Joseph J. Mecca Jr., is a memorial dedication ceremony Sunday in front of the Olean State Police Substation on Homer Street in Olean. Retired Sgt. Heidi Riley had just unveiled a memorial to her late husband Trooper Ross M. Riley. Both troopers' deaths were in the line of duty.

Memorial to fallen state troopers dedicated outside Olean substation

October 15, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Nearly 100 people attended the unveiling and dedication of a

(Facebook photo) An Allegany County man died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound after crashing his pickup truck into the front of the Seneca Gaming and Entertainment casino on the Oil Springs Territory.

Allegany county man crashes truck into casino, dies from shotgun blast

October 15, 2024

By RICK MILLER Olean Star An Allegany County man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he