Stigler News Sentinel

06/06/2026

Stigler Athlete to Compete in All-Star Game

By John Block
Sports Editor & Staff Writer
After a standout senior season that cemented his place among the top players in Class 3A, Stigler shooting guard Cade Parker has been selected to the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association (OBCA) Class 3A All-Star Team.

Parker is one of just 10 players chosen from Class 3A to participate in the annual OBCA All-State Games. The Class 3A squad will face the Class 4A All-Star Team on Saturday, June 6, at 2:45 p.m. inside Hamilton Fieldhouse at the University of Central Oklahoma.

06/05/2026

School to Conduct Special Election

By John Block
Sports Editor & Staff Writer
Stigler School board members voted to approve a resolution to conduct a special election for a $2.9 million bond issue during a special school board meeting on June 2.
During the meeting, the board also approved the hiring of Stephen H. McDonald & Associates, Inc. as a financial consultant.

The complete story is available in stores and online now in the June 4 issue.

06/05/2026

Healthy Habits MINI CHALLENGE

Healthy habits don’t have to be complicated.
Try one small thing today that supports your wellbeing!

The Challenge Tasks
DRINK MORE WATER (Green icon with a water droplet)

TAKE A SHORT WALK (Blue icon with a sneaker)

UNPLUG FOR 30 MINUTES (Yellow icon with a crossed-out smartphone)

ADD A FRUIT OR VEGGIE TO A MEAL (Red icon with an apple)

GO TO BED A LITTLE EARLIER (Purple icon with a crescent moon and "Zzz")

06/04/2026

Thank you for supporting Stigler News-Sentinel!

06/04/2026

King Coal in Haskell County

Photo by W.P. “Bill” Heard provided by Gary Kates.
Bigger than Grandpa’s hay barn. Built in Sallisaw for Garland Coal, the colossal Bucyrus Erie dragline floats across the Arkansas River in 1960. Special barges were constructed and one tug boat was destroyed due to its’ massive weight in the thousands of tons. Powered completely by electricity, the “doghouse" was taller than a 3 story building, with electric power lines as big as a grown man’s leg.

By Jeff Brown
Staff Writer
How many people under 40 are aware that there were coal mines in the Stigler area? Of those, how many knew that our brand of coal was highly sought after. “Bituminous coal” was so high in btu value that it sold for ten times the amount of lignite coal dug in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania. Not many is a good guess.
It is doubtless that Native Americans had discovered coal in Eastern Oklahoma long before organized business arrived. It’s popularity as a hot burning, economical fuel was its most important attribute to businessmen; Native American tribes obviously had discovered the benefits of burning a mineral that came to the top of the earth in some places, and the fact that it burned very hot did not escape them.

The complete story is in the June 4 issue.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

SPS to Participate
in Summer Food Service Program
Stigler Public Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the Summer Food Service Program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, s*x, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Meals will be provided at the following sites and times:

Stigler Grade School - 302 NE 5th Street, Stigler, OK 74462
May 26-29, June 2-5, June 8-12, June 15-19, June 22-26
Breakfast served 7:40 am - 8:00 am; Lunch served 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
Breakfast 125 meals; Lunch 125 meals

Meals will be prepared at the Stigler Grade School and delivered to the Middle School and High School
Stigler Middle School - 1001 NW 7th Street, Stigler, OK 74462
Stigler High School - 1111 NW 7th Street, Stigler, OK 74462
June 1-4, June 8-11, June 15-18, June 22-25
Breakfast served 8:00 am - 8:30 am; Lunch served 11:00 am - 11:30 am

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508 -11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.

The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: [email protected]

06/02/2026

Ballinger Named Small Agency Chief of the Year

By John Block
Sports Editor & Staff Writer
Stigler Police Chief Gary Ballinger has been named the 2026 Small Agency Chief of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, an honor he said reflects the work of the entire Stigler Police Department and the community it serves.

The award was presented to Ballinger on May 21 during the OACP conference at the Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. According to the OACP, the award is open to any Oklahoma Chief Law Enforcement Officer who has distinguished themselves in a commendable manner and serves a population under 10,000.

The complete story is included in the May 28 issue.