South Iowa property slated for redevelopment

A South Iowa Street building that has been vacant for nearly a decade is being demolished in hopes of attracting a redeveloper for the property.

Work on tearing down the former Mazzio’s Pizza building, 2626 Iowa, should be complete soon, said Bill Bowers, a real estate agent representing the owner of the property.

Bowers, with Re-Max Professionals, said he had received interest from banks and auto service companies, but no buyer for the property had been found.

Bowers said the owner, Lawrence resident Kevin Hughes, was open to selling or leasing the property for a variety of retail, office or service uses.

Kansas

Report says state importing more energy

Kansas continued to use more energy than it produced, according to a report released Wednesday by Lawrence-based Kansas Geological Survey.

The 2003 Kansas Energy Abstract reported 55 percent of all the energy used in the state was imported from outside its borders. The state has been using more energy than it produces since 1997.

The report also showed the state used five times more electricity than it did 40 years ago.

Renewable energy, such as wind and ethanol, are increasing, but represent less than 1 percent of the state’s total energy production.

Kansas City, Mo.

Bakery names chairman

Interstate Bakeries Corp. on Tuesday said Chief Executive Officer James Elsesser would replace Charles Sullivan as chairman.

Sullivan, who was Interstate’s chief executive for 12 years until last October, will remain a director.

The company released the news after its annual meeting at Union Station, where executives discussed the challenges facing the mature baking industry and Interstate in particular.