From the Alvin and Rosalie Sara check studio PBS Kansas presents Hattebergs People.

Well, the daily headlines tell us what happened, but it is the everyday people who tell us exactly who we are, and we call them Hattebergs People.

Coming up, one police detectives mission to change a broken system and protect the most vulnerable among us.

Plus, we revisit a salesman facing down his biggest personal test yet on the biggest party night of the year.

And I share a cup with a group of women holding on to a 50 year old tradition from across the ocean.

Then what happens when a small town is about to lose its very last lifeline?

One person simply refuses to let it go, and a local teenager chases national glory in a sport that seems miles away from Kansas.

And we also have a Wichita custodian, Jimmy McCartney.

He spent his days working quietly in the background, but his timeless lesson is one we could all learn from.

Thanks for joining us, everybody.

I'm Larry Hatteberg.

I'm Susan Peters, a half century of Kansas life preserved on video and now ready to be broadcast once again.

A half hour of Hattebergs People starts right now.

These stories are like old friends.

Their lives radiate from the screen like prophets of the past.

They were teachers, but not in a classroom.

Instead, they taught about life to those around them who cared to listen.

And I was their student.

For decades.

The way authorities investigated child abuse only made the trauma worse.

Victims were often interviewed in squad cars or with their abuser just rooms away.

Well, a quarter century ago, a local police detective had a better idea.

He and some others realized the urgent need for what would become the Hart to Hart Child Advocacy Center.

It's not the kind of crime you want to put on the front page of the paper, because you don't want to read about it.

You don't want to see it.

It's children.

It's very intimidating to come through the police department and then talk about their sexual things that have happened to them.

Detective T Walton should know.

He interviews all the children involved in child abuse cases in Harvey County.

What I do is I come through this area to bring the child over to that interview.

Room number five.

The child.

The average age is nine.

A lot of these are six year old girls.

You see a man in an orange jumpsuit with chains.

That child's eyes gets big.

A child sees everything.

Paul State Hospital, that child hears everything.

911.

And that child's being brought into the environment where there are criminals.

This interview room here is where we actually bring the child.

And then a camera, because we record all of these interviews.

It's an extremely small room.

Again, we're in the police station.

It makes it extremely hard for the child to talk, to keep the child from becoming victimized by the system.

Harvey County has joined other departments around the country in creating a child advocacy center located in Newton City Hall.

The yet to be constructed room will be quiet and calming and child friendly.

This will be an office right here.

There will be a two way mirror placed here.

In this room will be SS law enforcement or anybody else involved with the case.

Because this doesn't look like much right now, but it will be far removed from the police department a couple of blocks away.

This room will be a safe haven, will become a place where only one person interacts with the abused child.

The community owns the problem, and it's up to the community to solve the problem.

And they are stepping forward and they're doing that.

But each year, I probably work an average of between 30 and 40 cases a year.

People don't think it's happening here, but it is it.

And it's not that.

Newton's unique.

All towns have the problem that I know I'm doing the right thing.

The community is doing the right thing.

I'm definitely an advocate for children.

They just don't deserve to go through the things they go through.

They don't deserve to be abused in any, any way.

And someone needs to speak for them.

And that should be the court system.

Te Walton later became Harvey County sheriff.

Now he is retired and living in Washington State.

But his great work continues on in Kansas.

It sure does.

Since opening in August 2001, about 2000 children have been helped by the Hart to Hart Advocacy Center.

Now, many of those cases have resulted in warrants, arrests and convictions.

They're making a huge difference for all these children, a huge impact that Hart to Hart child Advocacy Center has done so much for kids in Harvey County and surrounding counties, and we're so glad that it still exists and still does great work.

Thank you, Sheriff Walton.

And I hope that gives other people in other parts of the state an idea to start a similar way.

Absolutely.

For anyone fighting addiction, the biggest victories aren't always measured in years.

They're measured in making it through just one more day sober.

Well, back in 1981, I met Tex Staib as he faced down the ultimate test for recovery New Year's Eve.

After living most of his life as an alcoholic, the middle aged salesman was finally getting his life back on track.

Here's his story of finding pride and sobriety and taking it day by day.

For recovered alcoholics like Tex Staib, for the holidays and especially New Years are difficult times.

Tex quit drinking two and a half years ago because, as he put it, I got to where I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Tex was lucky.

He got into the alcohol treatment unit at Saint Joseph Hospital, and since then his life has changed dramatically.

Basically, I spent about 25 years of my life, living a lifestyle that was based around drinking, this would be my third New Year's Eve.

That, I hadn't found it necessary to take it.

Drink drinking.

Caused me a lot of problems.

My family, a lot of problems that cost me, a lot of things cost me a family, numerous jobs and a host of other problems.

But that was three years ago.

Now, with proper treatment, he's got his job back, received the respect of his children.

But the battle to recovery takes daily effort.

I live on a 24 hour program with my life now, and that I know one day that alcohol isn't going to be a part of it.

I used to think about drinking, and now I think about not drinking.

I'm okay.

I like myself today.

Compared to three years ago, you know, middle age, salesman.

I don't have, I'm not overdrawn at the bank.

I don't owe my attorney fees.

Have gone down, and my hair doesn't hurt in the morning from the night before.

So without alcohol, what will Tex be doing this New Year's?

I'm going to get up and have a good breakfast.

I'll be able to tell him exactly.

Or yourself what I did the night before.

I'll have no guilt or, remorse about the night before.

If you have a drinking problem but would like to change your life, like text changed his call.

Any one of the alcohol treatment centers listed in the Yellow Pages and make your new year a new life.

I'm Larry Hatteberg.

Well, we don't know much about Texas life in the years that followed, other than he passed away 15 years after that interview at age 61.

It is not easy to fight alcoholism.

Addiction is one of the worst diseases ever and you fight it every day, every day, every single day.

No cure.

All right, well, but his story lives on, and hopefully it can be an inspiration for others, which I'm sure it will be.

Yeah.

During World War Two, thousands of young English women fell in love with American soldiers.

And when the war ended, many left everything behind to start new lives as war brides in the United States.

I love this story.

For a group of these women living near Winfield, a vow to keep their heritage alive turned into a tradition of meeting for tea for more than 50 years.

Now, when I visited them, there were only two members left, sharing a cup and a lifetime of memories.

We drew together as a group of English women, a lot in common.

There is a warmth at the table in Peggy Daley's kitchen, and another cup of tea.

I've got half a cup here and now I'm making an Afghan, but I don't think I'll get it finished in time.

With her friend Frieda Hatfield.

These two women who begin their lives in England, continue a Kansas tradition that's been ongoing for over 50 years.

Once a week, they meet for tea.

Panacea for all ailments.

And mold.

Companionship.

And the fact that we were all born British.

That's the glue that holds us together.

They were war brides.

This is Peggy's wedding picture in Taunton, England, brought to Kansas by their new husbands.

They faced loneliness and culture shock.

It was very, very difficult.

It's something you wouldn't consider twice.

Frieda Hatfield was from Weymouth on the coast.

She came over with a three month old son when I can.

They came to the land of windmills, sun and wind, and there were some surprises.

He told me all about chiggers, which I'd never heard of.

Didn't believe in.

Didn't believe such a thing existed.

I think it was.

The school system shocked me.

You know, we were through school at 14 to cope with all the changes.

Women like Peggy and Frieda formed little groups like this one.

I say we've dwindled, but we still get together and chat and drink tea and run down the government, praise the government, do all sorts of things.

As time and tea went by, these English women found Kansas to be home.

I became a citizen in 1963, and I did that because I wanted the right to vote.

It took a war to get these women to the Sunflower State.

And oh, that was terrible.

It takes T to keep them together.

It is a good cup of tea.

The people are so good.

If there's a fire, everybody bring stuff.

We never saw that in England.

People were more standoffish, weren't they?

But I just seemed like I fit in.

And I really enjoyed everything.

There is a calmness here by the window.

The colors on the teacups mirror the varied life of the war bride.

While they miss their family.

This little place on the Kansas soil is now home.

Time like tea I do.

Brewing.

Well, we miss it one.

Me.

Terror of the snow is on the ground.

Yeah, we look forward to it.

Now, Peggy and Frieda were able to keep meeting for tea for several more years.

Now, Frieda lived until 2017.

She was 97 and Peggy was 94 when she passed away in 2021.

Having tea with those two women was absolutely wonderful.

That was precious.

The teapot.

It had a cozy.

Oh, you know, I mean, it was so English.

Oh, and so much fun.

And they were great.

I just took one filled cans of snow.

Yes.

They lived just south of Winfield.

That is the oldest story.

And they were just fun, fun women.

I wish I could have had tea with them.

They looked like I should have invited you.

Fun.

You should have.

Okay.

When you think of Kansas sports, windsurfing may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

But in 1981, as this brand new sport was just catching on nationwide, one local teenager was already making serious wave as she sure was.

15 year old Lisa Newberger was on the fast track to becoming one of the best in the world.

The wind blows cold across Lake Jeannie as 15 year old Lisa Newberger remembers warmer weather.

Her sport is windsurfing, and sometimes Kansas weather makes it difficult for her to practice.

Despite that handicap, though, she's become a windsurfer in the world champion class.

Key Largo, Florida at the 1981 National Midwinter Windsurfing Championship.

Here, Lisa took third place in the women's division.

Now, windsurfing is a beautiful sport to watch, but out there on the board, it's muscle and coordination against the wind and the water.

It's a sense of freedom.

When you're out there, you kind of forget any troubles you might have and just clears your mind, at least for the time being.

You're out there just free and especially in high winds.

And when the conditions get kind of radical, it's really fun.

You just really enjoy life.

Then.

And speaking of enjoying life, Lisa was featured in this month's issue of life magazine.

She, along with several other windsurfers, were at a meet in the Bahamas as a life photographer snapped pictures for a swimsuit issue.

And I'm really happy out there.

It's hard to explain, but, you know, it's just really a lot of fun.

And I just, I, I myself really love High wind.

And in that, I just, I could last out there forever and just I kind of, I guess I thank God for letting me be out there at that time and having a lot of fun like that.

Back in Kansas, the ice floes in Lake Cheyney prevent any serious thought of practicing during the winter months.

I love Kansas, but sometimes I feel like moving to the tropics somewhere where it's always warm and really good winds and waves.

But then I don't know if I really want to leave Kansas either, because I love it here.

Windsurfing is still a young sport, but already plans are underway to make it an Olympic event in 1984.

For Lisa, being there would be nice, but she's also realistic.

Oh, I'd hope to, but it'll be hard.

You know, it's a dream.

Like most athletes dreams, I think to make it to the Olympics.

Lisa seems unaffected by the publicity that's beginning to surround her sport.

What does affect her is the call of the wind and the water, and a sport called wind surfing.

For TV ten news, I'm Larry Hatteberg.

Wow, talk about living up to your potential.

Lisa went on to win her first world championship in 1984.

She competed professionally around the globe and raced in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

All starting right here.

Jeannie, Kansas.

Jeannie.

Lake.

Yeah.

Well, after her racing career, Lisa became an elite coach for multiple Olympic teams.

And in 2024, she was officially inducted into the International Windsurfing Hall of Fame.

Well, today, she has traded the waves for the wide open spaces.

She lives on a ranch in eastern Oregon with her husband and two adult children, where she directs a nonprofit horse rescue.

So she keeps go on.

And she does.

Are you kidding me?

Something new.

Every time we hear about.

Unbelievable.

But despite traveling the world and living abroad for decades, Lisa says the heartland is still in her soul.

She recently shared a quote the girl may have left Kansas, but Kansas absolutely never left the girl.

And we want to make sure that because Harrisburg's people are right here on KP, us in Kansas, PBS Kansas, and she will live forever in Kansas.

Well, I shot that story when she was pretty much a teenager, an older teenager.

And I you knew that she was going to do stuff then?

Important stuff.

See, you have an innate eye for locating people even before they do the important stuff.

And then they go on to do the important stuff that she was just a neat young lady, and it was a pleasure to, to to work with her.

But you have no idea of what her future exactly.

You know, you can't see the future, but she was special.

So congratulations to everything she's done.

Yeah, well, you have a good eye for locating those talented people who are sweet.

Go.

Go far.

All right.

Losing the only grocery store, of course, can be devastating for a rural community.

When the longtime owner of Homer Market in Toronto passed away, it looked like the doors would close for good.

Yeah, but a year later, the lights were still on and employees stepped up to answer the call from the community.

She simply refused to let the town lose its lifeline is 309.

Remember when we were kids?

Our hometown grocery store seemed so big.

Would you like a shack for that?

No, no.

Okay.

They were just small neighborhood gathering places.

But when you are young, the memories are pure and forever.

All right.

Thank you.

Bye.

Homer's grocery store in Toronto would be in the nostalgia column of our memories.

But Homer doesn't run it anymore.

He died last year, and his longtime employee, Becky Smith, took it over.

Okay, $0.12 on your change.

I really enjoy the customers that I have here taking notice, and even the ones that come in from out of town, I just I enjoy them too.

Now, for a time, Becky wasn't sure she could keep it open, but she decided to try.

I'm doing what I wanted done with this store, and I feel like it's an honor to him that I am going to continue with the grocery store.

Toronto without a grocery store meant folks would have to drive to either Eureka or Yates Center to stock up.

And that would be many miles to drive for an aging population.

Now that I know that, I've got the entire town backing me.

I. I'm going to just stay right where I'm at.

We're lucky we got her.

Most of these little towns don't have a store anymore.

Guys like Ed Sharp come out several times a day just to talk.

I wish I could get my pick, but I bought over at Yates Center.

What kind of truck is it?

82 GMC four wheel drive.

Unlike the superstores in the cities, there are just a few items of each product.

In the meat cases, Becky still sells Homer's pork chops with that special seasoning.

And in an old cooler that doesn't work out of the paper towel.

We keep them on ice and keep them cool, especially in the summertime.

And they get a big kick out of that.

Thank you.

Ben.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

By working together, why things run a lot smoother.

And see you both later.

Okay.

See you later.

In a small success story in a town that needed good news.

Now, Becky kept the store going for a while, but couldn't make enough money to really keep it going permanently.

Now the place sits vacant.

However, another small grocery store recently opened in Toronto, so there's still a place to buy food.

And you know, in small towns, vacant buildings are the rule, really.

And they just sit there.

I how it's so I mean, you drive through like, towns like, Benton and Bentley and and there's a lot of vacant buildings.

I don't like fight.

And there's just memories.

I know, you know, and time change.

Times change.

People change, and people try to bring them back.

And sometimes you can and sometimes you can't.

I do not like change.

I know we do not like change.

I know you know, but fortunately, we keep the, We keep those stories alive through how to berks people.

The memories of crime.

So sometimes the most inspiring figures in our community are the ones working quietly behind the scenes.

In 1977, the floors of Wichita City Hall were kept shining by a man who believed there was dignity in every task.

Now, his name was Jim McCartney.

In a world that is often looking for easy shortcuts.

Jim's humble dedication to an honest day's work offers a timeless lesson for all of us today.

He's always busy cleaning, dusting, mopping, or waxing some portion of City Hall.

To the aristocrat, his job may seem inconsequential, but his philosophy on living and working is one from which we could all take lessons.

I believe that you could do any job with dignity.

Number one.

I don't have to feel bad because I'm earning.

Earning a living earns.

You see, I don't follow tricks and and do anything that's on the whatever I make.

I could go to bed with a clear conscience.

Now, is many jobs that, have a higher status in life.

Put you in a higher position.

People recognize you as, you know, higher, but they do a whole lot of things as undercover.

That's wrong.

But in my job, it's very little I could do to.

You know, I don't have to steal anything.

You know it.

Like I said, they tell me to do something.

And if I want to be fair with myself and fair with them, I just go ahead and do it.

And have a good conscience and see a deeply religious man.

McCartney says his philosophy is simply to stay right with God.

At home, Jimmy has 12 children, ranging in age from 42 to 10 years old.

This particular evening, some nieces and nephews were also on hand for the family dinner.

I take pride in raising my family and, love my wife and my children, and I don't think there's nothing too good for them.

And many times I worked the two and three jobs at a time, but I didn't feel, bad about it.

I felt like that was something that I had to do, and I learned to enjoy work.

That's the reason that, Like, I am on this job.

Anything they ask me to do, I figure that's part of my day's work.

And I got eight hours to work.

And they say, Jimmy, I want you to mop the floor.

I'm on the floor.

They want me to wash, wash, wash, wash.

And, And that way, I figure that I don't give them no problems, and, they don't get one man.

Jimmy McCartney.

The man who finds walking in the tunnel of life a joy no matter where that lively.

This is Larry Brief.

On Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, you gotta love Jimmy.

12 kids.

12.

Yes.

That's incredible.

God love him.

I bet he is a great was a great father.

I think he was a great father.

He was a very quiet guy, you know.

And he did his job.

He came to work every day.

You could depend on him.

And that says so much about what kind of person absolutely love that he does.

His job provides for his family.

What more could you ask?

I absolutely.

Well, Jimmy lived another 11 years, then passed away in 1988 at age 71.

It was a pleasure to meet.

And those are the kind of people they were, real people.

Those are the kind of people I like to meet.

And I'd like to put on television because they're special, you know, they'll never be on television again, never been on television before.

But we give them an opportunity to have a voice, and I like that.

They deserve to be, exposed and acknowledged.

Exactly.

Okay.

And the other thing is, Larry, we had a package in this half an hour from the 1980s.

From 1970s.

Love those old packages.

We call them packages and TV.

They're stories.

I love them.

Well when I, when I watch them I see things that aren't in the story and I, I see things the TV said or she said.

Yeah that, that I didn't put in the story.

Yeah.

But it just brings back this incredible memory of these people.

And I love these people.

Peace and love.

And it's a total escape.

I think it it was and it is and it is.

Okay, that is a wrap for this week to keep people on the air.

This wonderful escape we have once a week.

Please consider a $100 donation earmark specifically for this program and as a thank you, your name will appear on screen as a proud supporter at the start and the end of every episode.

That's a, donation to PBS Kansas Pride right now.

You should know Susan and I volunteer our time.

But producing television is expensive, and it's not possible without help from viewers like you.

Well, thanks for watching, everybody.

I'm Larry ahead of her.

I'm Susan Peters.

We'll see you again soon.