Cornplanter Square work keeps moving ahead
By JIM MEYER Staff writer Renovations to Oil City’s Cornplanter Square building, the former Mellon Bank building, are continuing with selective demolition and abatement completed…
Sprucing up gravesites
Liz Young and her mother, Verda Strawbridge, spent some time Wednesday planting flowers at Franklin Cemetery. “Oh they missed the flag,” said Strawbridge, who noted…
Tornado hits Missouri capital as deadly storms sweep state
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A tornado tore apart buildings in Missouri’s capital city as severe weather swept across the state overnight, killing at least…
Bell’s splash HR not enough; Rockies cruise past Pirates 9-3
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Another feat of strength from Josh Bell didn’t do the Pittsburgh Pirates much good Wednesday night. For the second time in two…
Review: In the winning ‘Booksmart,’ a teen comedy revolution
The Associated Press The insanely winning “Booksmart” boasts too many breakthroughs to count. There are the two leads, Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, both of…
Recent Deaths 5/23/19
Robert E. Sharp, 77, of Franklin, died May 20, 2019. For complete obituaries, pick up a copy of The Derrick for this day or…
Tips on paddling safety this boating season
Fewer than half a dozen steps into the big box sporting goods store and it was crystal clear. There, front and center, stood two stacks…
Pet of the day 5/22/19
Sadie is a 1 year old petite, female, Labradoodle surrendered to the rescue. Sadie has had a rough start being passed around and having no…
Classic Sloppy Joes
(Serves 4) 1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1 cup minced sweet onion 1 cup minced green bell pepper 1 can (141/2 ounces)…
2 OC women plead guilty in connection with drug deaths
From staff reports Two Oil City women pleaded guilty Monday in connection with two separate drug-related deaths last year. Heather Morgan, 37, pleaded guilty to…
Valley Grove robotics team grateful for chance to compete in Kentucky
By ROSEMARY FIELDING Staff writer The Valley Grove School Board recently read messages of gratitude from four excited elementary students whom the board had helped…
Human Services sets free summer lunch program
From staff reports Venango County Human Services will provide free healthy lunches on weekdays during the summer for children under age 18. The lunches will…
Research on children’s health risks in doubt over EPA funds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-running research projects credited with pivotal discoveries about the harm that pesticides, air pollution and other hazards pose to children are in…
Marquez quiets Pirates as Rockies roll to 5-0 victory
PITTSBURGH (AP) — German Márquez could sense his delivery speeding up. So the Colorado Rockies pitcher made a concerted effort to slow things down, putting…
Review: Smith’s fine in ‘Aladdin.’ Another guy’s the problem
The Associated Press It’s pretty clear after watching the new live-action “Aladdin” that doubts about Will Smith’s casting as the Genie are overblown. It’s the…
Recent Deaths 5/22/19
Peggy Sue Myers, 59, of Sligo, died May 21, 2019. Robert E. Sharp, 77, of Franklin, died May 20, 2019. For complete obituaries, pick…
Frenchcreek Twp. burglary
Jackson Twp. accident
Pet of the day 5/21/19
Piglet is a male kitten. He is current on vaccines. He is friendly and playful. Piglet can be found at Tri-County Animal Rescue Center.
Add Fruits, Veggies to Meals for Plant-Forward Nutrition
(Family Features) Adding more fruits and vegetables is one of the simplest ways to make at-home meals healthier for your family. Focusing your plate on…
162 to graduate from Venango tech center
From staff reports Venango Technology Center will hold its 50th annual awarding of certificates on Thursday, May 30, in the school’s cafeteria. The morning ceremony…
Art gallery will open in OC
From staff reports A new art gallery will open May 31 in Oil City. Gallery BC, located at 109 W. Second St., will feature the…
Oil City street sweeping set
From staff reports The Oil City street sweeping schedule has been set for this week. Today – Hone (Plummer to East Bissell), Hoffman, Bissell (Harriott…
Accused New Zealand mosque shooter charged with terrorism
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police on Tuesday filed a terrorism charge against the man accused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch…
Author: ‘Game of Thrones’ finale was ending, also beginning
NEW YORK (AP) — What’s next for “Game of Thrones?” The author, whose work was adapted into the HBO series that drew a record-setting numbers…
Recent Deaths 5/21/19
Robert Glenn Clinger, 87, of Summerville, died May 19, 2019. Georgie M. Homa, 93, died May 20, 2019. Mary Alice Cummings, 84, of Miola, died…
Don’t Be The Cause: 1 Moment, 1 Life
By HANNAH NIEDERRITER Student contributor It is not easy to comprehend the severity of crashing a car, at least, not until a mangled automobile is…
House Passes Blue Water Navy Act
By a vote of 410-0, the House on Tuesday unanimously passed H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. “The VFW salutes the united…
Pet of the day 5/20/19
Name: Brodie Breed: Retriever, Labrador/ Spaniel Gender: Male Size: Large Color: Black/ White Declawed: No House-trained: Unknown Brodie can be found at Venango County Humane…
Brandied Baked Ham With Mustard Butter
(Serves 16 to 20; makes about 2 cups mustard butter) For the ham: 11/2 cups packed dark brown sugar 1/4 cup brandy 2 tablespoons grainy…
Christian dancers group starting in Oil City
From staff reports Children of Yahweh is a new youth community praise and worship dance group that is looking for dancers in grades 3 through…
PennDOT seeking students to paint the plow
From staff reports The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is asking high school students in the northwest region to participate in its Paint the Plow art…
Trump warns Iran not to threaten US or it will face ‘end’
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Iran early on Monday not to threaten the United States again or it would face…
Moran, Musgrove lead Pirates to 6-4 win vs Padres
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joe Musgrove of the Pittsburgh Pirates is undefeated against his hometown San Diego Padres. Musgrove pitched well enough to survive a…
‘John Wick 3’ dethrones ‘Avengers: Endgame’ with $57 million
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The box office has a new king and his name is John Wick. The third installment of the hyper violent Keanu…
Recent Deaths 5/20/19
Georgia D. Peterson, 71, of Franklin, died May 17, 2019. Norma B. Drayer, 78, of Rimersburg, died May 18, 2019. Robert A. Gilmore, 67, of…
Libraries to offer free video platform
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer In preaching the mantra of “a library is so much more than books,” Venango County’s three public libraries are…
Tri-county primary ballots have some interesting contests
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer Candidates for top of the ticket offices have been hitting the hustings these past few weeks in preparation for…
Police ID teen tackled after bringing gun to Oregon school
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police released the identity Saturday of an 18-year-old student who was tackled after reportedly bringing a gun into classroom at an…
Country star Travis Tritt’s tour bus involved in fatal wreck
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Country music star Travis Tritt says his tour bus was “sideswiped” in a multi-vehicle crash that left two people dead in…
Bell hits 2 of Pirates’ 4 homers in 7-2 win vs Padres
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates jumped on rookie lefty Nick Margevicius for a season home run milestone Saturday night. Josh Bell homered twice…
Terroristic threats
State’s jobless rate hits lowest mark since 1976
From staff reports Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate in April decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to a record low 3.8 percent in April – the lowest…
Agriculture Safety Day
Hasson Elementary School second-graders, from left, Violet McMillen, Sarah Jackson and Ella Kasunic work on a giant farm puzzle during the annual Progressive Agriculture Safety…
Registration available for Good News Camp
From staff reports Registration is open for the annual Bucktails Good News Camp sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Venango, Forest and Clarion counties chapter. Two…
Report shocks, angers some of Ohio State doc’s 177 victims
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Victims of a now-dead Ohio State team doctor are reacting with shock, grief and anger at investigative findings that validated a…
Reynolds homers, Lyles fans 12 in Pirates’ 5-3 win vs Padres
SAN DIEGO (AP) — It’s been nearly three years since the Pittsburgh Pirates have had a pitcher strike out 12 batters in a game. That’s…
Review: Egerton glitters in glossy, conventional ‘Rocketman’
The Associated Press Whatever you say about Dexter Fletcher’s glossy, glittering Elton John blinged-out biopic “Rocketman ,” a shiny sequin of a movie, it doesn’t lack…
Recent Deaths 5/18/19
Mary (Louise) Summers Ei, 93, died May 14, 2019. Donald C. Lux, 79, of Little Silver, New Jersey, died May 13, 2019. Kenneth C. Orr,…