Storms force cancellation of Shawnee's Red, White and Blue Celebration

Oklahoma-based Pioneer Equipment Rental, co-owned by John and Larry Redwine, has been recognized as being among the nation’s leaders in the rental industry.

After multiple moves, name changes and an absence of more than two years, Shawnee’s trailer retailer, Durabuilt Trailers, has re-opened. 
Located at the intersection of I-40 and State Highway 102, Durabuilt Trailers has been Shawnee’s locally owned and operated full service trailer supply since 1990.

The Community Market Place recently added new vendors, Doug and Janetta Tesch, of Tesch Farms in Bethel.
The Tesches began with five acres and a small garden, but after finding enjoyment and togetherness in growing fruit and vegetables, they expanded their growing each year.

The fear of the unknown and a slow economy were pushed aside when three local residents, tired of working for other people, decided to open a custom car shop on Kickapoo Street in Shawnee.
One Stop Custom Shop, just south of the Kickapoo Spur, is really no more a trio of guys – Jeramie Lovette, Michael Petty and Pekka Ikonen, a native of Sweden —— who met while working together at a nearby business painting boats.

After decades of selling and servicing GM cars and trucks in Shawnee, Brackeen Motors may be on the verge of losing its ties with one of the world’s largest automakers.
Gary Brackeen, owner of Brackeen Motors, released the following statement Friday afternoon:
“General Motors informed us today that they do not expect to continue their relationship with us past October 2010,” Brackeen said in the statement. “While this is an unfortunate development, this is also a long ways off. We plan to be here doing our best each and every day between now and that time. It was also made clear that these plans are not final, and things could change over the next 18 months. We will continue selling new and used vehicles, selling parts, doing warranty repairs and other service work. We appreciate everybody’s continued business.”

Ron Henderson, chairman of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce presents Dean Wall of Fred’s Tire and Battery with the chamber’s Friendliest Employee of the Month for May.

Although a dozen of Oklahoma’s Chrysler dealerships will more than likely cease to exist in the near future, the Automax in Shawnee will remain open and avoid the fate of 789 U.S. dealers, most of whom received their walking papers in the form of a UPS letter Thursday.
Greg Herndon, general manager of Automax in Shawnee, could not be reached for comment Thursday but the dealership wasn’t on a list of dealers to be closed, which Chrysler filed Thursday at a bankruptcy court in New York.

Highlighted by the tagline “Travel Matters,” the Shawnee CVB on Monday kicked off National Travel and Tourism Week by recognizing local industry partners that know firsthand how travel benefits Shawnee.

The Kickapoo Casino, at the intersection of SH 102 and U.S. 62, is unveiling is new look.
Jack Parkinson, executive director of Enterprises and Development for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, said the casino is the first in Oklahoma to offer a boutique casino atmosphere.

The Shawnee Chamber Ambassador Club, along with employees of the Oklahoma Station Bar-b-que located at 42008 Westech Road in Shawnee, cut the ribbon recently on their new business.

Community business leaders can access the knowledge and experience of 10 internationally acclaimed leaders by attending the Maximum Impact Simulcast at the Bailey Business Center on the Oklahoma Baptist University campus in Shawnee on Friday.

Wood Group Pressure Control in Shawnee recently told its employees the third shift at the plant will cease to exist come next week, the plant’s manager said Thursday afternoon.
Reza Hajjari, the plant’s manager, said the elimination of the third shift will only affect around 10 percent of his workforce, which he estimated on Thursday to stand at around 150 employees. Hajjari said there are around 15 to 17 workers on the third shift.
“We will be absorbing about half of them into the first and second shifts, but, unfortunately, we are letting a few people go,” he said.

Gary Brackeen has seen a lot of changes in the automotive industry in his four decades of selling cars.
Earlier this week when General Motors announced it would axe its Pontiac line of automobiles, well, that was just one more thing to add to the list.
Brackeen, the second-generation owner of Brackeen Motors in Shawnee, said Thursday that while it’s unfortunate Pontiac will cease to exist in the very near future, he doesn’t anticipate the move by GM will hurt his business much.

Two of Shawnee’s largest employers, Eaton and Central Plastics, have cut a combined 102 jobs in the past week as business orders and demand continue to remain low at both plants.
Ward Rehkopf, plant manager at Eaton, said the hydraulic plant announced it would cut 78 jobs Wednesday, including some front office positions, and that affected employees were notified Thursday.
Since late 2008 the plant has shed 179 jobs, cutting its workforce to nearly half of what it was six months ago.

Shawnee’s oldest law firm just got a little younger. Effective April 1, the law firm of Stuart and Clover was renamed Stuart, Clover, Duran & Thomas LLP.  In addition to the name change, the firm also announced the addition of two partners, Robert S. Duran, Jr. and Mathew L. Thomas.
Addressing the changes taking place at the firm, senior partner Jim Stuart stated “we are very pleased to have Rob and Mat join our practice.

If your Social Security number was among the more than 5,500 lost in Dallas by an Oklahoma Employment Security Commission employee last month, there’s a chance the state may lend a hand if the precious data falls into the wrong hands.
Then again, they may not.
The following is part of a brief statement released by the OESC on Wednesday:
“If a person has a claim against the agency, it may fall under the Governmental Tort Claims Act that is administered by the Risk Management division of the Oklahoma Department of Central Services.”

The Ambassador Club of the Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce along with the employees of Aaron’s located at 220 E Shawnee Mall Drive cut the ribbon for its new location.

The employees and owner, along with the Chamber Ambassador Club, cut the ribbon for 3 Buddies located at 4836 N. Kickapoo.

The owners along with the Ambassador Club cut the ribbon for Monkey Business Children’s Consignment Sale located at 45101 Benson Park Road.

At least one business owner whose company was affected when an Oklahoma Employment Security Commission employee lost a flash drive containing the Social Security numbers and payroll information of more than 5,500 Shawnee-area workers isn’t pleased with the way the state agency handled the incident.