Love's Travel Stops has opened its tire retread plant and distribution center in El Reno.

The 220,000-square-foot facility doubles the size of the one it replaces in Grand Prairie, Texas. The new plant is located on Radio Road, just south of I-40.

In a statement, Love's said the new center will create about 50 jobs.

Redlands Community College and Canadian Valley Technology Center have worked together for years to expand educational offerings and support area businesses, knowing that collaboration was the key to true economic prosperity in their service region. The efforts have been recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education with the Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award.

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series about Ida’s Law, which establishes a liaison to work with law enforcement agencies and families to solve Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons cases throughout Oklahoma. The series explores Ida Beard’s story, legislation history and more.

The El Reno Police Department received a call July 15, 2015, that Ida Beard was missing.

Six years later, the 35-year-old Cheyenne and Arapaho female tribal member is still missing. Police have no credible leads.

Following a 17-minute debate, the El Reno School Board voted 4-0 last week to approve the district’s 2020-21 Return to Learn Plan – without a mandatory mask or vaccine mandate.

“There is not a lot of change (from last year). One of the changes that is most glaring is there is no mask mandate. Under the circumstances, we will be leaving 2,200 of our kids unprotected by not having a vaccine and mask mandate and I think that is a mistake.

“However, it’s state law and it’s my job to follow state law,” said El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay.