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$2 million bond set for suspects in connection to homicide
A: Main, news
April 16, 2025
$2 million bond set for suspects in connection to homicide
By JOHN BLOCK STIGLER NEWS-SENTINEL

Two men are currently being held in the Haskell County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection to the homicide of Tina Mitchell, 56, of Stigler.

According to Haskell County Assistant District Attorney James Green, formal charges are expected to be filed early next week against Billy Mitchell, 49, of Stigler, and Jack Swanda, 39, of Muskogee. The two men are currently being held on a $2 million bond each for the homicide, which occurred on April 5.

Green said the duo is expected to make an initial court appearance on April 15.

The Haskell County Sheriff ’s Department reported receiving a 911 call at about 6 p.m. on April 5. Deputies traveled to a property between Garland and Cass, just off Tamaha Road to the east, where they spotted a male subject, later identified as Swanda, covered in blood.

According to Haskell County Sheriff Terry Garland, Swanda suffered stab wounds to both his neck and shoulder and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Upon release from the hospital, he was arrested and booked into the Haskell County Jail.

Tina Mitchell’s body was discovered with stab wounds and multiple apparent gunshot wounds. She was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to a press release issued by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations (OSBI).

OSBI and local law enforcement began searching for Billy Mitchell after he was identified as a suspect. He reportedly fled on foot and was found hours later hiding at a nearby property. He was then arrested and booked into the Haskell County Jail.

The next morning, deputies and agents continued their search of the property and discovered a second deceased individual. The individual was transported to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine a cause of death.

Garland said that he expects the death to be a result of foul play and that the sheriff ’s office will have more information once the medical examiner’s reports are released.

As of press time, the deceased individual’s name has not been released.

“I hate it for the families, because that’s who it affects the most right now, because they have to deal with it. The families are in our thoughts and prayers, and we’re doing everything we can possibly do to make this as easy for them as possible,” Garland said.

Ironheads punch ticket to the Big House with gritty 48-42 win over Chandler
A: Main, sports
Ironheads punch ticket to the Big House with gritty 48-42 win over Chandler
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
March 11, 2026
The Eufaula Ironheads are headed back to the state tournament after grinding out a hard-fought 48-42 victory over Chandler, securing their place at the OSSAA State Tournament at the Big House in Oklah...
A: Main, news
Deadline to change party affiliation approaches
March 11, 2026
Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, McIntosh County Election Board Secretary Kim Limbaugh said today. Voters may change their party a...
A: Main, news
Former OSBI investigator sentenced for multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor
March 11, 2026
MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jordan Francis Toyne, age 37, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 109 months in prison for ea...
Communities built through faith and determination
A: Main, news
Communities built through faith and determination
By STAFF WRITER 
March 11, 2026
On a cool Saturday morning, Feb. 28, in the closing days of Black History Month, the steeple of Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church in Checotah rose above a quiet gathering devoted to remembrance, faith and...
Community says goodbye to pillar, leader and friend Gary Lee Nichols
A: Main, news
Community says goodbye to pillar, leader and friend Gary Lee Nichols
By Shauna Belyeu General Manager 
March 11, 2026
There are men who build businesses. And there are men who build communities. Gary Lee Nichols did both. For more than five decades, Gary wasn’t just the owner of grocery stores; he was a steady presen...
An All American 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off Success
A: Main, news
An All American 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off Success
By LaDonna Rhodes Staff Writer 
March 11, 2026
The 18th Annual Checotah Chili Cook-Off hosted by the Heartland Heritage Museum & Gallery was a culinary showdown of steaming hot chili along with American patriotism for fun-filled evening of food an...
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Tahlequah resident sentenced for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition
March 11, 2026
MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bradley Eugene Davis, a/k/a Bradley Eugene Mefford, age 31, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to ...
Oversight work and deadlines
commentary
Oversight work and deadlines
By REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYS (405) 557-7302 
March 11, 2026
This week has been especially active at the Capitol as oversight c ommit tees work through one of the most imp ortant stages of the legislative session. At this point in the process, all remaining Hou...
The ‘prose’ and cons of paragraphs
commentary
The ‘prose’ and cons of paragraphs
March 11, 2026
I miss the days of true creative writing – you know, when you could write a real paragraph and your readers could keep up with the story. You didn’t have to throw in a bunch of pictures or short and s...
Morel to love
news
Morel to love
March 11, 2026
The House Tourism Committee this week passed House Bill 3263 to establish the morel mushroom as Oklahoma’s state mushroom. Considered a delicacy because of cultivation difficulties, several thousand O...
news
Wild Onion Dinner
March 11, 2026
The Eufaula-Canadian Tribal Town will be hosting the annual Wild Onion Dinner on Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eufaula Indian Community Nutrition Center, 800 Birkes Rd., Eufaula. The co...
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