(Lewis, Iowa) – Much needed reconstructive work on the historic Revered George B. Hitchock House near Lewis recently wrapped-up. The nearly 168-year-old Hitchcock House is one of more than 2000 locations on Iowa the National Register of Historic Places and Landmarks (NRHP). It was closed to the public for tours, on July 23, 2023 after concerns about public safety was raised following the much publicized collapse of a building in Davenport. Hitchcock House Board Chair Sharon Guffey-Lewis said also, the Board had an obligation and a responsibility to repair it.

She said the work began in August, after they secured a contractor out of Pottawattamie County who has 46-years of experience in building restoration, especially in Omaha’s historic Old Market.

Sharon said the south wall in the basement is now secured.

Lewis said they’re very pleased with the work. The project was paid for in-part by funds from the Cass County Board of Conservation and Cass County Board of Supervisors. The Cass County Supervisors, Tuesday (11/28), unanimously passed a Resolution “Allocating ARPA funds (in the amount of $47,932) to [the] Hitchcock House [near Lewis] for foundation repairs,” allowing for the project to be paid in full, within a week.

Guffey-Lewis says the Hitchcock House is heated during the Winter, solely to help preserve the structure. It is not lived in on a regular basis. She says just because this segment of repairs is finished, doesn’t mean work on the structure will end entirely. And those repairs have to be done according to the standards set forth by the NRHP.

Guffey-Lewis said they are always open to receive donations for the care of the landmark Hitchcock House.

If you would like to help, send your donations to the Hitchcock House at:

63788 567th Lane

Lewis IA 51544

For more information email hitchcockhouse1@gmail.com, or call 712-769-2323 .

JOHNSTON, Iowa [KCCI] —A Dallas County woman accused of neglecting dozens of horses on her property is pleading not guilty to charges of livestock neglect. Linda Kilbourne, of Johnston, had 46 horses seized from her Dallas County property in early November. KCCI reports Kilbourne’s defense team is now requesting the State disclose any evidence. This includes Kilbourne’s prior criminal records, statements and testimony before a grand jury. Court documents also say Kilbourne is not requesting a hearing at this time.

Officials say many of the 46 animals seized were severely injured and malnourished. One of those horses died despite efforts to save it. Some horses have returned to the property under the care of a third party. The rest are now being cared for by the Animal Rescue League.

STATE CENTER, Iowa (KCCI) — A State Center man is grappling with the loss of his woodworking warehouse just months after his son died in a car crash. Barry York is a sixth-generation woodworker. He told KCCI ever since his ancestors came to Davis County in 1846, there’s been a carpenter in the family.On Thanksgiving Day, his warehouse was destroyed in a fire.

According to the State Center Police Department, the Marshall County Communications Center received a report of a commercial structure fire in State Center around noon on Nov. 23. Firefighters from State Center, Rhodes, Melbourne, Colorado, and Clemons responded. Barry York said there is $200,000-$250,000 in damage. Investigators will be at the warehouse Thursday to try to figure out the cause of the fire. York said his business would make anything and everything out of wood. It was a well-known trade in the community.

His son, 43-year-old Bruce York, of Ames, was his longtime business partner, making him a seventh-generation woodworker. Barry York said he was planning on passing the business to his son once he was done. But Bruce was killed in a car crash just months ago. The wreck happened around 8:40 a.m. on July 6 on the south side of State Center. Troopers say a pickup driven by Bruce York was attempting to make a turn when it was struck by another vehicle.  The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office said the younger York was pronounced dead on the scene.

FORT DODGE, Iowa — Fort Dodge police are working to figure out if a threat made at Walmart is credible. Police confirm a picture was posted on social media, showing a threat written on a bathroom stall. The threat says they will “shoot it up tomorrow” (with Tuesday’s date). It also said “good luck” and included vulgarity. Investigators are working to find out who wrote the message. They have extra patrols at the store.

SANTA ANA, California (KCRG) – A John Doe homicide victim who was discovered 49 years ago in southern California has finally been identified. KCRG reports the victim was from eastern Iowa.  Authorities in California, say that on September 14th, 1974, a deceased teenage male was located near an off-road. Authorities at the time determined his death to be accidental, due to alcohol and diazepam intoxication in his system. They also determined he died 3 to 5 days before his body was found. At the time, officials were unable to establish his identity. Then, in 1980, Orange County, California, Homicide investigators noted that there were other young male deaths in 1978 due to alcohol and diazepam intoxication in that same area. The deaths were classified as homicides.

In 1983, Randy Steven Kraft, later known as the “Scorecard Killer” was arrested for murder after a highway patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on Kraft and located a deceased male in the front passenger seat. In the trunk of Kraft’s vehicle was a coded list believed to be upwards of 67 victims. John Doe was believed to be an early victim of his. Kraft was eventually convicted of 16 murders and sentenced to death. He is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.

In November 2022, Orange County investigators submitted tissue samples for John Doe to a private forensic biotechnology company to develop a DNA profile. In October 2023, after months of work building the genealogy database, investigators identified the possible grandparents of John Doe. After obtaining a DNA sample from a woman believed to be the mother of John Doe, investigators were able to positively identify John Doe as Michael Ray Schlicht, of Cedar Rapids, IA.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department says that family members have been notified and are in the process of having a headstone installed to mark his final resting place. Investigators are continuing to work on Michael’s case. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or crimestoppers.org.