June 11, 2026
Limestone/Communal
Multiple Fire Departments Respond to Structure Fire With Entrapment in Limestone
Emergency crews from at least eight fire departments and an ambulance service responded to a reported structure fire with entrapment in the 800 block of North Main Street in Limestone on the morning of June 11, 2026. The Limestone Volunteer Fire & EMS Department led the response, with mutual aid arriving from Allegany, Knapp Creek, Hinsdale, Olean, Killbuck, Seneca and Derrick City, Pennsylvania. New York State Police and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office also assisted at the scene. Officials did not release the cause of the fire or further details, underscoring the scale of the multi-agency response mobilized to protect the small community.
Photo: JacksonJeep / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Houghton/Communal
Houghton University's East Hall Renovation to Add Sastic Courtyard
Houghton University's East Hall, the campus's largest residence hall for women, is getting a comprehensive interior and exterior renovation expected to finish in August 2026 after a 15-month project that began in May 2025. The $11.6 million overhaul includes a new Sastic Courtyard facing Genesee Street, funded by alumni Jonathan and Lois Sastic, with a gas firepit, outdoor seating, picnic tables, and views of the Crystal Rork Arboretum. A new drive-up loop will bring visitors to a covered entrance with direct elevator access inside the renovated main lounge. The project's lead gift came from alumni Donald and Beverly Greene, with the Class of 2026 chipping in toward the courtyard's firepit.