The Derrick

06/11/2026

Discussion emerged at Monday's Oil City Council meeting over a multi-week delay in displaying the downtown Hometown Heroes banners.

Organizers with the Oil City Hometown Heroes committee questioned officials on why 30 new banners had yet to be installed, noting that they had expected them to be flying from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.

City Manager Michelle Hoovler cited logistical issues regarding utility pole ownership and safety clearance for semi-truck traffic along Center Street.

Council agreed to work with the committee to resolve the complications and get the banners up.

Some discussion took place Monday about the Hometown Heroes banners in Oil City as community members debated when they would be put on display.

06/11/2026

The Venango County Salary Board has approved a complete overhaul of its compensation structure to address a major spike in employee turnover.

County data shows employee turnover jumped from 32% in 2021 to 43% in 2025, costing taxpayers an estimated $800,000 to $1.5 million last year alone. Commissioners Chairman Sam Breene stated the changes will mean a pay increase for workers, marking the first major overhaul of the county pay scale since 2006.

The updated pay ranges will roll out for Human Services employees on July 5, 2026, followed by county-wide adjustments on January 1, 2027.

Read the full report at the link in the comments below. (Photo by Jamie Hunt)

06/11/2026

The Franklin Curb Market is entering its second month of the summer season but remains displaced from its usual 12th Street island location due to ongoing construction.

The market is currently operating out of the city parking lot next to the UPMC Magee office and PNC Bank in Franklin on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Longtime vendors report that the loss of visual traffic from the 12th Street intersection has heavily impacted sales compared to previous years.

Read the full report at the link below.

Franklin Curb Market is heading into its second month of business this summer, although it has yet to return to its normal post at the 12th Street island in Franklin.

06/10/2026

A familiar face for countless families in Venango County is stepping down after nearly five decades in obstetrics.

Cheri Siverling, a Seneca resident and unit director at UPMC Northwest, retired on Friday after a 49-year nursing career.

Her final day concluded by delivering the baby of Alyssa Murray, a fellow nurse she mentored at the hospital.

Read the full report at the link below.

Cheri Siverling concluded a 49-year career in obstetrics Friday by delivering the baby of a nurse she mentored at UPMC Northwest, leaving behind a legacy of mentorship and dedication in

06/10/2026

The Oil City Fire Department has filled its complement of full-time firefighters following two new appointments at Monday's city council meeting. Luca Cherico, a paramedic and registered nurse, and Caden Mallory, a U.S. Army Veteran, were introduced by Fire Chief Tim Alex.

Mayor John Kluck stated that the public safety departments are in the best shape they have been in years.

Read the full report at the link below and share this to keep your neighbors informed.

The Oil City Fire Department has a full complement of full-time firefighters as well as seven part-time firefighters after the department’s two newest hires.

06/10/2026

Dealing with loss is difficult, especially for the youngest among us. Be it family members or friends, grief can be incredibly hard for children to work through.

It is with this in mind that children from across western Pennsylvania travelled to Seneca Hills Bible & Retreat Center on Tuesday for the Venango VNA Foundation's Camp Good Grief for a day of healing, support and outdoor adventure.

Youths ages 6-17 got to enjoy ziplining, rock climbing, swimming, crafts and various sports like volleyball. Interspersed throughout the fun were grief workshops aiming to help kids process the losses in their lives.

Read more about how the camp helped shine a light on grief at the link in the comments below. (Photos by Jamie Hunt)

06/10/2026

Property owners will see some relief in the upcoming Titusville Area School Board budget.

The proposed $48.2 million plan for the 2026-27 school year features a significantly reduced deficit and completely nixes a previously planned tax increase for residents.

The budget shortfall dropped from over $300,000 to just under $78,000 following an unexpected increase in federal Title 1 funding and a decision to leave a vacant custodial position unfilled.

A final vote on the budget is scheduled for June 22.

Read the full report at the link below.

The Titusville Area School Board, during its public meeting on Monday evening, heard the final $48.2 million proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year, which included a “significantly reduced deficit”

06/09/2026

The Chief Cornplanter statue in Oil City will soon be surrounded by a traditional Indigenous "Three Sisters Garden" designed to feed and educate the community.

Members of the Little Turtle from the East tribal community and local volunteers are teaming up to plant corn, beans, and squash around the monument. Once harvested, the produce will be donated back to local residents, and organizers plan to host educational sessions on traditional agriculture.

Click the link below to learn more about this project and other summer events approved by city council.

The summer season is shaping up to be an eventful one in Oil City.

06/09/2026

Multiple unexplained power outages and voltage fluctuations disrupted homes and businesses across Venango County over the weekend.

On Saturday night, a fallen tree broke a power pole off Evergreen Drive in Franklin Heights, causing a small brush fire and localized outages. By Sunday evening, a widespread brownout hit the Seneca and Cranberry areas, dropping household voltage to 80 volts and causing electrical motors to burn out at UPMC Northwest and the Cranberry Sheetz.

Penelec has not yet released an official cause for the Sunday voltage drops.

Read the full report at the link below.

Power outages and fluctuations over the weekend without an obvious cause from severe weather raised questions from a number of residents in Venango County.

06/09/2026

The Venango Training and Development Center is seeking community support to sustain its Fairweather Lodge for veterans on Route 322 in Cranberry.

This unique facility provides critical housing and peer recovery support for up to four local veterans who share household duties, camaraderie and transportation.

With funding becoming increasingly tight, program directors hope to raise awareness of this crucial resource, which remains the only lodge of its kind in the immediate area.

Read the full report at the link below.

The Venango Training and Development Center is looking to raise awareness and generate more support for the Fairweather Lodge for veterans that the center operates on Route 322 in Cranberry.