Football is almost here - McIntosh Democrat

Sports

July 17, 2025

Football is almost here

By Rodney Haltom Sports Editor 918-689-2191 ijsports@cookson.news,

The football season is almost here. With just five weeks remaining till the kickoff of high school football, fans are ready to see what their teams will achieve in 2025. The Eufaula Ironheads are looking to improve from a losing record in 2024 in what is the toughest district (Class 3A) in all of Oklahoma high school football. The Ironheads will field a new quarterback, Luke Hodgins and expert rushing from running back Peter Lee.

The Checotah Wildcats will return sophomore quarterback Cole Rolland and running back Jayden Ellen along with athlete Elijah Mohammad.

Both teams lost a bunch of linemen and receivers like Checotah’s Elijah Thomas, who will be wearing the crimson and cream of the University of Oklahoma this Fall.

Morris will have a new coaching staff with Jimmy Whitlock taking the helm as head coach and Brian Young returning to coaching as offensive coordinator.

There will be a lot of changes and excitement coming in 2025 and the Eufaula Indian Journal and McIntosh County Democrat newspapers will be there to cover it.

1-2-3 break.

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Honey Springs Memorial pays homage to history

By STAFF WRITER, LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

July 24, 2025

Honey Springs Battlefield held its annual memorial service this past Saturday honoring the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The Friends of Honey Springs also had their a...

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Eufaula man pleads guilty to murder

By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

July 24, 2025

MUSKOGEE –William Clayton Brown, 42, of Eufaula, entered a guilty plea last week to a one-count Felony Information of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison and a $...

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Whole Hawg Days has something for everyone

July 24, 2025

The 41st Annual Whole Hawg Arts & Crafts Festival kicks off Thursday, July 24, with the first Whole Hawg Rodeo hosted by the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce. Friday and Saturday will be filled with activi...

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2nd Annual Rett Run brings awareness to incurable disease

By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

July 24, 2025

It wasn’t by chance that Landon and Lexi Donahue named their firstborn Elaina Grace, for it has been by the grace of God that their daughter’s battle with Rett Syndrome has brought awareness to an are...

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Marijuana operation raided in county

July 24, 2025

Thousands of marijuana plants and 1,183 pounds of processed marijuana were confiscated Monday during a raid conducted by an Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics’ Marijuana Enforcement Team three miles south o...

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Paws N Claws to register dogs during Whole Hawg

By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

July 24, 2025

Paws N Claws will be registering Eufaula city dogs this Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Posey Park during Whole Hawg Days. The local rescue organization hopes the com...

News

Cat Daddy brings rhythm, soul, and compassion to York Manor

By MICHAEL BARNES

July 24, 2025

Recently, Craig Morgan — better known as Cat Daddy — walked into York Manor Nursing Home in Muskogee not like a guest, but like someone coming home. Guitar slung over his shoulder, smile wide, and hea...

News

Thomas is Queen

July 24, 2025

Kyznie Thomas, 18, of Checotah, has been chosen Queen of the 2025 Eufaula Chamber of Commerce Rodeo. “I have ridden horses all my life,” she said. “Training and riding barrel and rope horses – I was b...

News

Whitefield girl named Princess

July 24, 2025

Six-year-old Lakyn Spur Stancell, daughter of Cole and Paige Stancell of Whitefield, has been named Princess of the 41st annual Whole Hawg Days Rodeo. Lakyn graduated from Whitefield Public Schools an...

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Boater hits dam

July 24, 2025

A boater crashed into the Tenkiller Lake dam shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Maritime Enforcement Division. The operator of the 2009 Legend, Connor Up...

commentary

Of heroes and making Oklahoma a better place

By JOE DORMAN, OICA CEO

July 24, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) Heroes Ball will be this Saturday, July 26, and we are excited about the honorees who have been selected this year. The 2025 awards, as...