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News
November 2, 2023
Woman arrested after attacking officers, others
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

Vamella Marie Banks, 38, of Checotah, is facing charges of assaulting a police officer and a medical care provider as well as malicious injury to property under $1,000 in value and resisting an officer.

Associate District Judge Brendon Bridges on Friday, Oct. 27, entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the defendant and set bond at $25,000. Her pre-preliminary hearing conference will be held on Nov. 29 at 9 a.m.

Banks was arrested on July 27 after exhibiting bizarre behavior at a stranger’s residence in a rural area east of Eufaula.

Arresting officer Deputy Quinton Short said when he arrived at the scene he ended up in a battle with a suspect whose arms were covered in blood.

After her arrest, the suspect was taken to McAlester Regional Hospital and, because of the seriousness of the injuries to her arms, she was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Short stated in his arrest report.

She spent several days in the hospital before being released into police custody and taken to the McIntosh County jail.

Short said he went to the rural McIntosh County residence after receiving a report that a woman was trying to break into a man’s home.

“The caller advised that he did not know the woman,” said the probable cause affidavit.

When Short arrived at the scene he said he was met by a male in a wheelchair, identified as Mark Caldwell, owner of the residence.

Caldwell said a strange woman, later identified as Banks, was in a bedroom of the residence breaking things and a home health aid was locked in a bathroom.

With some difficulty, Short was able to get the suspect out of the bedroom, he said.

“Once in the hallway, (Banks) began fighting with me and attempted to bite my left arm. (She) hit me with the back of her hand. I pushed (her) against the wall and was able to partially control one arm. Due to the fact Vamella’s arms were covered in blood, they were slick and hard to control her body movements,” Short said.

A second deputy, Jeff January, arrived and assisted in handcuffing the suspect.

“Once Vamella was placed into hand restraints, she began trying to kick me in the legs,” Short said.

An ambulance arrived and the EMS aid determined that the suspect was possibly under the influence of drugs and “could be overdosing,” according to the probable cause report.

The EMS administered Narcan to the suspect, which calmed her down, Short said.

But, while in the ambulance, the suspect allegedly bit one of the medics.

Lady Ironheads top the field to win Canadian Golf Tournament; Lady Wildcats place 6th
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Lady Ironheads top the field to win Canadian Golf Tournament; Lady Wildcats place 6th
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
April 2, 2026
The Eufaula Lady Ironheads brought home hardware Wednesday, capturing the team title at the Canadian Golf Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Course with a strong all-around performance. Eufaula set the tone...
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Highway 150 memorial sign unveiled for fallen heroes
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Highway 150 memorial sign unveiled for fallen heroes
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
April 2, 2026
On Friday, March 27, friends and family of the late William “Bill” Walker, an OHP State Trooper, and the late T. Leo Newton, Fountainhead Park Superintendent, gathered together to participated in the ...
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Teen drowns on Lake Eufaula
April 2, 2026
A 17-year-old drowned on March 20, on Lake Eufaula in Pittsburg County. According to reports, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) and several other local agencies recovered the teen in approximately nin...
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Head-on fatality claims Checotah man
April 2, 2026
According to OHP, a Checotah man died after colliding head-on with another vehicle last Wednesday in McIntosh County. The vehicle, driven by Ricky L. Chester, 49, was traveling west on Oklahoma 266 at...
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Early voting begins April 2
April 2, 2026
The following entities will hold an election on April 7, 2025: Eufaula Public Schools (Board Member Office No. 1) Graham-Dustin Public Schools (Propositions No. 1 & No. 2) Hanna Public Schools (Board ...
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Candidate filing for primary elections approaches
April 2, 2026
Primary elections for federal, state, and county candidates are scheduled for June 16, 2026 across the state. Mc-Intosh County Offices that are up for election in 2026 are: • County Assessor • County ...
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Editor Picks
Successful Youth Safety Day
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Successful Youth Safety Day
April 2, 2026
OSU McIntosh County OSU Extension office had a great turn out for their Youth Safety Day on March 23. Area 5th graders from Checotah, Eufaula, Stidham and Hanna had a fun-filled day learning about saf...
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More Than the Easter Bunny
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More Than the Easter Bunny
April 2, 2026
At the Eufaula Memorial Library on Friday, March 21, a presentation by longtime educator Roger Thompson became more than a history lesson—it became a reflection on how we learn, how we question, and h...
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Checotah Youth Wrestling gaining ground
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Checotah Youth Wrestling gaining ground
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
April 2, 2026
Checotah Youth Wrestling (CYW) has been making a name for itself with a new generation of talented wrestlers emerging from the mat, including two young ladies, Annabelle Mowdy and Tylee Johnson that s...
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Micronesian National pleads guilty to failing to register as sex offender
April 2, 2026
MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Reynold Rodriguez, age 60, a Micronesian national, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to R...
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Author William B. Lees sheds new light on Battle of Honey Springs
April 2, 2026
This past Saturday, Oklahoma native William B. Lees, a former professor at the University of West Florida who spent over 30 years researching the Battle of Honey Springs told about his book Honey Spri...
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