Prune and Almond Truffles
(Family Features) Supplementing meals and snacks with powerful, versatile ingredients can take healthy eating from bland and boring to delicious and adventurous. Take your breakfasts,…
Understanding Seeds and Seedling Biology
Most vegetable crops start their life as seeds. Seeds of some crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli, are usually planted into greenhouse trays to…
Franklin man charged with intimidation, obstruction
From staff reports A Franklin man is facing charges for intimidation and obstruction. Sugarcreek Borough police said in a criminal complaint that Cody Latchaw, 33,…
Taste of Talent application packets available
From staff reports Application packets for the 12th annual Taste of Talent vocal competition are available online. The weekly singing competition is sponsored by Franklin…
Russia evacuating embassy in Ukraine as crisis escalates
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia began evacuating its embassy in Kyiv, and Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia on Wednesday as the region braced…
National Guard to help DC control traffic for truck convoys
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital as it prepares for trucker convoys…
Review: Fall in love with Joe Wright’s ‘Cyrano’
The Associated Press Joe Wright is at his best when he’s making movies about love. They may not always have a happy ending. In fact,…
Recent Deaths 2/23/22
Frank Wayne Ohler, 89, of Polk, died Feb. 21, 2022. William Stemmerich, Jr., 69, of Clintonville, died Feb. 21, 2022. Gwendolyn Marie Best, 96, of…
Pet of the Day 2/22/22
Moose is such a sweet, sweet, boy! He came in with some skin issues but they are quickly resolving. He loves to give kisses and…
Citrus Breakfast Toast
(Family Features) Supplementing meals and snacks with powerful, versatile ingredients can take healthy eating from bland and boring to delicious and adventurous. Take your breakfasts,…
VA Proposes Disability Rating Changes
VA has proposed changes to its Schedule for Rating Disabilities for auditory, respiratory, and mental health conditions. These changes would incorporate modern medical data and…
Gun stolen from vehicle in Oil City
From staff reports Oil City police said a gun was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 500 block of Colbert Avenue at about 3:30…
Nominations open for FLEX Young Professional of the Year
From staff reports Future Leaders and Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX), the young professionals organization of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, is accepting nominations for the…
World leaders focus on how to punish Russia over Ukraine
BRUSSELS (AP) — Shocked by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to deploy troops to separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, world leaders moved quickly Tuesday to…
Trump’s social media app launches year after Twitter ban
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s social media app that he hopes will rival Twitter launched Monday as he seeks a new digital…
Tom Holland’s latest adventure ‘Uncharted’ tops box office
The Associated Press Tom Holland might be without his Spider-Man suit in “Uncharted,” but his latest action-adventure is still doing good business at the North…
Recent Deaths 2/22/22
Rodger L. Patton, 70, of Mercer, died Feb. 18, 2022. Albert “Al” Burda, 74, of Clintonville, died Feb. 18, 2022. Dianna Lyn Potts Smith, 75,…
Analysis: China’s bubble Olympics kept reality at a distance
BEIJING (AP) — They did it — that much seems obvious. But what, exactly, was the “it” that they did? China pulled off a logistically…
Huge opal sells for nearly $144,000 at Alaska auction
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A gemstone, billed as one of the largest gem-quality opals in existence, was sold for $143,750 at auction in Alaska on…
Man pleads guilty in deadly shooting during drug deal
POLK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — A man involved in a drug-related robbery that ended with the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in eastern Pennsylvania…
Sasol chemical plant to close
By LUKA KRNETA News editor Sasol this year will begin the process of shutting down its chemical plant in Cornplanter Township, a company representative based…
Victory Elementary students collect 796 boxes of cereal for charity
By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Have you ever wanted to see nearly 800 boxes of cereal topple over like a row of dominoes? You have…
Beijing’s Olympics close, ending safe but odd global moment
BEIJING (AP) — A pile of figure-skating rubble created by Russian misbehavior. A new Chinese champion — from California. An ace American skier who faltered…
Russia extends troop drills near Ukraine as violence spikes
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia extended military drills near Ukraine’s northern borders Sunday amid increased fears that two days of sustained shelling along the contact…
Review: Channing Tatum and his dog co-star raise the woof
The Associated Press Something would have had to go very, very wrong for “Dog” not to work on a basic level. Pairing Channing Tatum, one…
Fire chief updates group about 911 adjustment
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Franklin fire chief Jim Wetzel gave a brief update about an adjustment regarding Venango County 911 during Wednesday’s meeting of…
Community Playhouse returning to stage with first show in 2 years
From staff reports Community Playhouse Inc. will present its first show in two years with “Love Letters” on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25 and 26,…
Ukraine rebels mobilize troops amid Russia invasion fears
MOSCOW (AP) — Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered a full military mobilization Saturday amid a spike of violence in the war-torn region and fears…
Judge rejects effort by Trump to toss Jan. 6 lawsuits
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has rejected efforts by former President Donald Trump to toss out conspiracy lawsuits filed by lawmakers and two Capitol…
Ottawa crackdown: police arrest 100 after 3-week protest
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Police arrested scores of demonstrators and towed away vehicles Friday in Canada’s besieged capital, and a stream of trucks started leaving…
Review: From hippies to hipsters, ‘Texas Chainsaw’ is back
The Associated Press Et tu, pause button? I thought you were my friend. Anticipating the inevitable guts and gore and murderous mayhem, I screened Netflix’s…
Recent Deaths 2/19/22
Virginia Joyce Gibson, 92, of Oil City, died Feb. 16, 2022. Viola Ruth Burneisen Brown, 78, of Oil City, died Feb. 10, 2022. Joseph P….
Pet of the Day 2/18/22
Hello! I am Meadow! I used to be really shy when I first arrived here at the shelter. I started to really like the people…
Caramelized Onion, Mozzarella, Prune and Thyme Flatbreads
(Family Features) Supplementing meals and snacks with powerful, versatile ingredients can take healthy eating from bland and boring to delicious and adventurous. Take your breakfasts,…
Germany leads in women’s Olympic bobsled, USA in 3rd
BEIJING (AP) — The Germans remain right at home on China’s Olympic sliding track. Winners of gold medals in seven of the eight sliding events…
Israeli strawberry clocks in as world’s heaviest on record
KADIMA-ZORAN, Israel (AP) — After a year-long jam, a mammoth Israeli strawberry is entering the record books. Weighing a whopping 289 grams (10.19 ounces, more…
Review: Tom Holland in the video game adaptation ‘Uncharted’
Goonies never say die, and neither do some of their storylines. “Uncharted,” a new movie based on the PlayStation video game, cribs heavily from adventures…
‘Irreversible’: No easy fix for water fouled by gas driller
DIMOCK, Pa. (AP) — Meeting with a man whose well water has been polluted for years, officials in the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office asked him…
Pet of the Day 2/17/22
Diesel came to us because he wasn’t doing well in a home with a toddler. He has a twisted front leg that he was born…
Prune, Mozzarella and Basil Skewers
(Family Features) Add a healthy twist to happy hour at home with a nutritious snack that goes perfectly with your favorite beverages. When gathering family…
Oil City woman facing theft charges
From staff reports An Oil City woman is facing charges for using another woman’s debit card to make unauthorized charges. Oil City police said in…
Overdose task force visits Rocky Grove students
By LAURA O’NEIL Staff writer Members of the Venango County Overdose Task Force interacted with Rocky Grove High School students during the students’ lunch period…
Truckers brace for a police crackdown in besieged Ottawa
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Police poured into downtown Ottawa on Thursday in what truckers feared was a prelude to a crackdown on their nearly three-week,…
Biden: Infrastructure plan gives $1B for Great Lakes cleanup
The Associated Press Long-delayed cleanup of Great Lakes harbors and tributary rivers fouled with industrial toxins will accelerate dramatically with a $1 billion boost from President…
Amazon’s ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ to end after season five
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Miriam “Midge” Maisel will have one more shot to make her stand-up career dreams come true. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” will…
Recent Deaths 2/17/22
Freda M. Chilson, 72, of Knox, died Feb. 15, 2022. Paul Ronald Brewer, 64, of Parker, died Feb. 13, 2022. Janie Irene Ball Lehman, 74,…
Banana Walnut Pancakes
(Family Features) With the weather cooling, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend some time in the kitchen to try out fun recipes and create special…
Pet of the Day 2/16/22
All I really want is a home to lay around in the laps of luxury and fed. I once stole an entire treat bag and…
Man serving homicide sentence pleads guilty in federal case
From staff reports A former Cochranton man who has already been sentenced for killing his stepmother and half-brother in 2019 has pleaded guilty to federal…
Route 8 plans display available online
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation invites the public to view the online plans display for a project to improve Route 8 (Pittsburgh…