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Community Links:
Oil Region history timeline
Oil City Library
Franklin Library
Venango Co. Birds
Oil Region Astronomy
Oil Creek State Park
Oil Region history timeline
Oil City Library
Franklin Library
Venango Co. Birds
Oil Region Astronomy
Oil Creek State Park
Past Features:
Applefest in Franklin
Youth Field Day - Izaak Walton
Rock In River Fest
Veterans Day Parade in Oil City
Oil Heritage Festival in Oil City
Applefest in Franklin
Youth Field Day - Izaak Walton
Rock In River Fest
Veterans Day Parade in Oil City
Oil Heritage Festival in Oil City
| Click for the website of Two Mile Run County Park! |
God bless PA State Trooper Paul Richey
and Nancy Frey-Smith, their families
and friends.
It seems like the world has stopped, as
the community comes to terms with the
shock and grief of last week's tragedy.
Three bullets, three lives lost for
nothing. Out of an ongoing domestic
abuse situation, so much suddenly gone.
Franklin High School graduate Paul
Richey was in the prime of his life at 40,
active in the lives of his wife and two
children, his church and the
Pennsylvania State Police. His value to
Franklin and beyond was immeasurable,
and his absence leaves a terrible void
where once a great man stood.
Nancy Frey was also important to
Venango County. She participated in the
management of Two Mile Run County
Park, following in the footsteps of her
father, Gerald Frey, the long-time
director of the park.
Trooper Richey and Nancy Frey were
both active in the same church, Christ
United Methodist Church in Franklin,
and both of their funerals were presided
over by Rev. David Janz, the church's
pastor. The crimes of the gunman was
premeditated and calculated. Smith
executed his wife, then trooper Richey
as he exited his car, then himself.
Mike Smith had been abusive to his wife
many times throughout their marriage,
including a time in 1997 when he
showed up with a loaded rifle at her
workplace (A. Crivelli Auto in
Sugarcreek). The responding officers
managed to convince him to put the gun
down, and he somehow plea bargained
the charge to a misdemeanor.
In 2000, the court allowed Smith to get
his weapon(s) back, after he had
completed his probation. Since that time,
friends would ask Nancy about odd
bruises and she would say she had
injured herself. She always felt she could
manage her husband's mental problems,
telling friends she knew how to deal
with him when he was in "one of his
moods." His mental disorders became
especially serious when he disabled his
back after falling off a ladder during a
roofing job. Now on medical disability,
depressed and isolated, he spiraled
downward. Trooper Paul Richey had
responded to previous domestic
disturbances at the Smith home, and he
volunteered to accompany a fellow
trooper when the call came in.
There's a special place in heaven for the
two shooting victims, and another for
the gunman who viciously removed
these two bright lights from our lives.
and Nancy Frey-Smith, their families
and friends.
It seems like the world has stopped, as
the community comes to terms with the
shock and grief of last week's tragedy.
Three bullets, three lives lost for
nothing. Out of an ongoing domestic
abuse situation, so much suddenly gone.
Franklin High School graduate Paul
Richey was in the prime of his life at 40,
active in the lives of his wife and two
children, his church and the
Pennsylvania State Police. His value to
Franklin and beyond was immeasurable,
and his absence leaves a terrible void
where once a great man stood.
Nancy Frey was also important to
Venango County. She participated in the
management of Two Mile Run County
Park, following in the footsteps of her
father, Gerald Frey, the long-time
director of the park.
Trooper Richey and Nancy Frey were
both active in the same church, Christ
United Methodist Church in Franklin,
and both of their funerals were presided
over by Rev. David Janz, the church's
pastor. The crimes of the gunman was
premeditated and calculated. Smith
executed his wife, then trooper Richey
as he exited his car, then himself.
Mike Smith had been abusive to his wife
many times throughout their marriage,
including a time in 1997 when he
showed up with a loaded rifle at her
workplace (A. Crivelli Auto in
Sugarcreek). The responding officers
managed to convince him to put the gun
down, and he somehow plea bargained
the charge to a misdemeanor.
In 2000, the court allowed Smith to get
his weapon(s) back, after he had
completed his probation. Since that time,
friends would ask Nancy about odd
bruises and she would say she had
injured herself. She always felt she could
manage her husband's mental problems,
telling friends she knew how to deal
with him when he was in "one of his
moods." His mental disorders became
especially serious when he disabled his
back after falling off a ladder during a
roofing job. Now on medical disability,
depressed and isolated, he spiraled
downward. Trooper Paul Richey had
responded to previous domestic
disturbances at the Smith home, and he
volunteered to accompany a fellow
trooper when the call came in.
There's a special place in heaven for the
two shooting victims, and another for
the gunman who viciously removed
these two bright lights from our lives.
Adopt a Brick - Garden of Memories
to honor a loved one who has
survived cancer or who is deceased.
Contact Franklin Area Chamber of
Commerce or Franklin City Hall.
Bricks are $25 or $40 for two. The
garden, located on a lot at 14th &
Buffalo Sts., is the project of Eagle
Scout Matthew Shaffer. A gazebo
will be constructed at the site by
Eagle Scout J.J. Thompson.
to honor a loved one who has
survived cancer or who is deceased.
Contact Franklin Area Chamber of
Commerce or Franklin City Hall.
Bricks are $25 or $40 for two. The
garden, located on a lot at 14th &
Buffalo Sts., is the project of Eagle
Scout Matthew Shaffer. A gazebo
will be constructed at the site by
Eagle Scout J.J. Thompson.
Click the 4-H ribbons for website
of the Venango County Fair, with
a complete schedule of this year's
week-long event. August 2-7
Fairgrounds near Franklin
Traditional 4H Club activities.
Petting zoo & camel rides all day.
New this year are midway rides
such as the Ferris Wheel,
Scrambler, Carousel and other
favorites. Live music & other
entertainment daily.
For more, call (814) 437-7716
email: venangofair@csonline.com
of the Venango County Fair, with
a complete schedule of this year's
week-long event. August 2-7
Fairgrounds near Franklin
Traditional 4H Club activities.
Petting zoo & camel rides all day.
New this year are midway rides
such as the Ferris Wheel,
Scrambler, Carousel and other
favorites. Live music & other
entertainment daily.
For more, call (814) 437-7716
email: venangofair@csonline.com
Last year's A Taste of
Franklin (right) and
Titusville Oil Festival
(below).
Franklin (right) and
Titusville Oil Festival
(below).