Brad Pitt has not lived in Shawnee since he was a baby, but the town started buzzing when the actor and his girlfriend, Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie , landed their private plane for a few hours on Thursday for a birthday visit with Pitt’s grandmother, Betty Russell .

“It was just a good, close visit,” said Russell, who turns 86 next week.

Pitt’s plane flew in from Austin, Texas , and landed at S...