With a Kansas Department of Transportation traffic count map showing 23,000 vehicles on Kansas Highway 10 daily buzzing by just to the south, there’s no secret Air Filter Plus in Eudora is expanding.

Bret Kay, the president and owner of the company in the Eudora Business Park, said Wednesday that Air Filter Plus was indeed adding 3,000 square feet of warehouse space to the existing 12,000-square-foot building it has occupied for the past 15 years. The project was needed to catch up with company growth, he said.

“We added three or four people the last three to five years,” he said. “We’ve grown, but our work space hasn’t. Some of our existing space is for office use, so 3,000 square feet will add quite a bit of storage. It will allow us to increase our inventory on hand and product line.”

The company provides air filters for industrial, commercial and institutional applications in western Missouri and Kansas.

“For heating and air conditioners, you need a filter in front of the unit,” Kay said. “We’ll sell it to you and come out and change it out for you.”

Kay said Air Filter Plus employs 28 people, 14 of whom are service technicians who deliver and install filters.
“We’ve had slow and steady growth,” Kay said. “We had one year where we went backwards during the recession, but other than that we’ve grown every year.”

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On a sad business note, Cutter’s Smoke House and Catering has ended its 15-year run in Eudora. Owner Tracy Trefz said Saturday was the last day for the restaurant, which was located downtown before moving six years ago to 218 E. 20th St. just south of K-10.

Trefz said it was a difficult decision to close the eatery known for its food and live blues and bluegrass three nights a week.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years,” she said. “We made a ton of friends, and a lot of talented people came through here. And I think we served some good food.”
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The Eudora Chamber of Commerce had its annual banquet Saturday. Eudora chamber project manager Theresa Noll-Thompson said Keith Nowland and his State Farm Insurance of Eudora was honored as the chamber’s business of the year, and city of Eudora Public Works Director Mike Hutto was named citizen of the year.

Noll-Thompson said presenters cited Nowland’s many community activities, including his sponsorship of the Eudora school district’s student of the week and presenting the welcome baskets given to new residents.

Hutto was lauded for his willingness to go above and beyond the requirements of his job.

It was also revealed at the banquet that the Eudora chamber’s new website, groweudora.com, is operative. Noll-Thompson said features were still being added to the site that now includes an interactive map that helps viewers locate local shopping opportunities, a calendar of events and job listings. Yet to be added is a full directory of chamber members.
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Baldwin City Economic Development will have its annual meeting Jan. 28 at The Lodge, 502 Ames St. The banquet will start with a social hour with jazz music at 5:30 p.m., a dinner at 6:30 p.m., and presentation of awards for business person of the year and social organization of the year at 7:15 p.m. Brady Pollington, economic development project manager for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, will be the guest speaker.

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A Baldwin City tradition, the annual Chocolate Auction to benefit the Lumberyard Arts Center, will be at noon Feb. 7 at the arts center, 718 High St. The date a week before Valentine’s Day will give those attending a head start in finding the right sweet or piece for art for their sweethearts. Lumberyard board member Sandy Cardens said those wanting to donate art for the auction could bring pieces by the Lumberyard. Those wanting to learn more about donating sweets should call the Lumberyard at 785-594-3186 or send an email to info@lumberyardartscenter.org.