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It's time for Positively Kansas, tonight.

This is such a big deal in archeology to find a site of this scale where no one expected it.

His discovery will not only rewrite the history books, but could be a game changer for the economy in one southern Kansas town.

Find out how this Wichita State archeologist unearthed the discovery of his career, and why it's such a big deal, also.

They can't explain it.

They don't really know what happened.

It's right out of Ripley's Believe It or Not!

This Kansas man is living a normal life with only part of a brain.

His is one of many amazing stories this local woman is documenting to show the world that miracles do happen and more often than you may think, plus.

My first impression was, wow!

This Harvey County woman can lift 300 pounds.

Or what she plans to do with that power is even more impressive.

I'm Sierra Scott, those stories and more coming your way.

Positively.

Kansas starts right now.

It's the shocking discovery that is blowing the lid off everything we thought we knew about Native American life.

It also rewrites a history of South Central Kansas and the Wichita Indians and could have worldwide implications.

Jim Grawe interviewed the archeologist who on earth this piece of lost history.

How big of a deal is this?

Well, we're talking about what may have once been the largest city in North America, right here in Kansas.

It was lost to history until a Wichita State archeologist recently found it.

Sometimes in the sciences, you have what's called a paradigm change, where all of a sudden the earth shifts and you have a different view of things.

And that's what's happening here.

And the impact could be seismic.

Wichita State University archeologist Don Blakeslee solves a 400 year old mystery.

He proves that the lost city of Etzanoa was located on the present side of Arkansas City, Kansas.

This was one continuous settlement on both sides of the Walnut River, about five miles long, continuously on the east side.

We're not really sure how long on the west side.

It may have been longer.

All that was known about Etzanoa came from the writings of Spanish explorers, who came upon it in 1601.

This was one of the very first European encounters with native Americans, and the Spaniards wrote about a battle they fought there against an outside group that did not live in the city.

Meanwhile, they described the city as consisting of 2000 grass houses of ten people each, and they included a map of the terrain drawn by a native they had taken hostage.

On the map there are circles that represent settlements connected by lines that represent rivers and roads.

So it should have been a simple matter to match the map to existing sites and topography.

But that didn't happen at first.

Miguel, the Native American who drew the map, depicted his territory accurately, but with East at the top.

Then his Spanish interrogators asked for more information to fit this on the page.

He tilted the orientation halfway through.

So the Miguel map has two orientations left is north at the top of the page, but it is south at the bottom of the page.

A University of Oklahoma professor finally discovered that issue with the map and reconfigured it.

Then Blakeslee recognized the confluence of the two rivers as the Walnut, and the Arkansas at Ark City.

But he needed physical evidence to prove it.

Blakeslee enlisted volunteers for a research expedition and arranged for a documentary film crew to record what happened.

We had gone down there with a list of things we wanted to be able to demonstrate, the structure of the town, and we found that.

Scale of the town, we found that.

The battlefield, we found that.

They turned up many artifacts, but this was the clincher.

Lawrence High School student Adam Ziegler discovered this tiny iron ball.

Then volunteers found two more.

Blakeslee recognized them as pieces of shot from a Spanish cannon.

Yeah, the clincher was finding the battlefield from 1601.

Oh, yeah.

Nobody else was firing little iron bullets made out of pretty poor quality iron.

Other than this man.

Now, this discovery of the lost city of Etzanoa is rewriting the history of the Wichita Indians.

And for that matter, the history of North America.

This may have been the largest settlement on the continent at the time, and it is raising all sorts of new questions.

How do you feed 20,000 people when there are no real vehicles?

How do you get food in and out?

How do you trade and who do you trade with?

And how about waste disposal?

20,000 people and not a single outhouse.

Blakeslee says there's evidence that the people of Etzanoa understood the Aztec language, native to Mexico, and that they hunted and processed bison on an industrial scale.

The excavation is just beginning.

However, Blakeslee says the magnitude of this discovery not only impacts the past, but also the future for south central Kansas.

He envisions the site becoming a major hub for scientists, historians, students and tourists.

In the short term, the next step is further excavation of the site.

We'll have our cameras there and bring you a follow up report, in a future episode of Positively Kansas.

When you think of Wichita, the image of a small town living really doesn't come to mind.

But as Anthony Powell shows us, there's a place bordering the air capital that continues to attract more and more people to that small town way of life.

It may not have a TV show centered around it, but if you ask folks in Bel Aire, Kansas, their city does indeed have a lot of similarities to Mayberry.

I do like the small town feel of it, I like and the parks and the and knowing our neighbors.

This is kind of our our nice, quiet, peaceful corner of Wichita.

Things, though, are a bit noisier in Bel Aire these days.

There's lots of homebuilding going on, 600 new residences are scheduled to be constructed over the next several months.

City Manager Ty Lasher says it's partly due to the economy rebounding, but equally important.

I think our location helps a lot.

What we hear from people say really like the small town feel that Bel Aire has.

So we have about 7500 residents now.

Lasher says it's not just Kansans who are discovering Bel Aire, thanks to nearby Coke Industries.

Lots of out-of-state people are also settling here.

Safety is another appealing factor.

Bel Aire has its own police department, so community policing really does happen here.

Developers also find Bel Air friendly because there's less bureaucracy.

We can get, zone change done in a couple of months.

But it's not just residential development that's going strong.

The city's Sunflower Commerce Park has attracted some of the biggest names in business.

FedEx came in.

They wanted to expand.

we're getting a lot of interest, from people that, are from out of state that are looking for us.

Along with City Hall, there's also a lot of excitement coming from residents about all the development occurring in their city.

But just to make sure everyone's on the same page, the city had Wichita State commission a survey of residents asking them their vision of the future for Bel Aire.

Growth in today's market and economy is inevitable.

And to not embrace that growth and change should be missing an opportunity.

According to city officials.

The survey strongly revealed that residents don't want big growth like a mall, for example.

I think it would be nice to have a few more small businesses.

I know there's some, you know, some friends who have maybe wanted to open a small shop or something.

Attracting more mom and pop type businesses is exactly what the city says it continues working on.

So residents can have more conveniences while still enjoying their cherished small town way of life.

For Positively Kansas, I'm Anthony Powell.

Now, for anyone who's familiar with Los Angeles, you've probably heard about a community there called Bel Air.

City officials in Bel Aire, Kansas, say they occasionally get calls from people asking about the other Bel Air.

They kindly remind callers that the West Coast Bel Air doesn't have an “E ” on the end.

We've heard the phrase hope springs eternal.

Well, when all appears lost, praying for a miracle is likely your last hope, or maybe it's your best hope.

Here's Jim again to explain.

Another way of looking at it is this, when seemingly impossible things happen, how do you explain it?

The Kansan in this next story wants you to think about that.

It's meant to be an encouragement.

As your winter is on a mission to show you that hope is never lost.

That what you think is impossible may, in fact be possible.

Some of these things that you cannot explain it physically with science, with medicine, with statistics not explainable.

She started a website where she chronicles the stories of people who have experienced what she considers miracles.

For me, the definition of a miracles, an event, an event, a circumstance or an accomplishment that is believed to be brought about by the hand of God.

Stories include those about people who have walked away from horrific accidents, uninjured, a pregnancy that was never supposed to be possible.

And the story of Chase Kear.

In 2008, Kear landed on his head while pole vaulting at Hutch Community College.

His skull was cracked from ear to ear.

He was rushed into surgery where doctors removed a quarter of his brain.

In the unlikely event he survived.

They believed he would most certainly be an invalid for the rest of his life, but that is not what happened.

They can't explain it, they don't really know what happened.

Kear was back home in a month and a half and was quickly regaining his faculties.

I had to relearn to eat, to walk, to talk.

Everything.

And I did it with such speed that that's that's part of the miracle that everybody talks about.

A lot of people think it's the fact that I lived, but that was highly, highly, highly unlikely but possible.

But this isn't.

If you'd met him on the street, you'd have no idea that this healthy, articulate man is living a normal life with only part of a brain.

How do you explain that?

Obviously, somebody else had a hand in this.

The only thing he can think of is that it was prayer.

And he credits one prayer in particular, to which his family members posted on Facebook and shared around the world for helping make his miracle recovery happen.

It's a prayer to Father Emil Kapaun a Kansas priest who died in a prisoner of war camp in Korea, who is now under consideration for sainthood in the Catholic Church.

Father Emil Kapaun gave glory to God by following his call to the priesthood, and thus serving the people of Kansas and those in the military.

Father Kapaun, I ask your intercession not only for these needs.

Which I mentioned now the miraculous recovery of chase Kear, but that I, too may follow your example of service to God and my neighbor.

For the gifts of courage and battle and perseverance of faith, we give you thanks so, Lord.

He had a whole community praying for him.

And it started with his Aunt that kind of initiated the prayer chain.

And then the Father Kapaun in prayer.

Their Catholic family and Catholic faith.

And it just spread quickly among the community of Colwich and, Andale and then greater Wichita.

And then before you know it, there were people all over the world praying for Chase.

Winter says such prayers to saints are not part of her Protestant tradition.

But Kear's story, along with all the others shes reported on, are broadening her understanding of God and just what is possible.

From a personal growth perspective, it has helped me to look at people differently than I did before.

not to be so inclined to judge on things that I really am not haven't experienced myself.

And she's hoping these stories will have the same impact on others.

And Witter says, if you have your own miracle to report, please drop her a line so she can interview you too.

You can find a link to her website on the Positively Kansas page at KPTS.org.

A 17 year old Halstead High School senior is on her way to making history.

Katelyn Walters is about to become the first female in the state to serve as a cannon loader.

Yes, you heard me right.

A cannon loader.

If you put your mind to something, you can do it.

It doesn't matter what it is.

Even if it's something 99% of us, male or female, would have a hard time doing.

The option to become a cannon loader for the Kansas National Guard wasn't available to females until 2015, but since then, no female has.

That's because not just any female is qualified to do it.

As part of 13th Bravo, Kaitlyn will be required to load 100 pound rounds into a cannon with no assistance.

A recruiter says it took a long time to find a female who could do that.

The physical demands of artillery men or infantry men are very demanding, and the standards are the same across the board.

So, our big thing is we didn't want to have, anybody, male or female, enlist in that position that could find it physically challenging, etc..

I think it's better that I am a powerlifter going into this just because, I correctly lift heavy things a lot.

And so less chance of an injury or just being able to keep up with everyone.

Staff Sergeant Ben Walker met Caileen through her brother, who also plans to enlist.

My first impression was, Wow.

As part of the selection process, Sergeant Walker talked to her teachers, her brothers, and the rest of her family.

Then he found out she was a powerlifter.

It was.

It was, very amazing experience, I guess, because, like, you just don't expect that kind of thing.

As you can see, Caileen is more than qualified to do the job she's been lifting since the sixth grade.

And I didn't really take it seriously, but I was always pretty good at it and stronger than all the guys.

When she reached high school, Caileen was planning to go out for track, but when a coach saw her lift, he said.

Yeah, you're going to powerlifting.

And boy, was he ever right about that.

Last year I tied a state record at state.

I got second place overall, first place and bench, second place in squat and third place in Hinckley.

Let me put that into perspective for you.

The maximum weight she's been able to squat is 300 pounds or max bench 165, and her max handling is 175 pounds.

What does it take, do you think, to be successful?

What do you have that the average person maybe doesn't?

You're going to fall down a lot, and you just have to get back up and keep doing it and remember why you're doing it.

You have to.

I think having a motivation behind it is really, a key to success.

Caileen wont be the only female in her unit, but having grown up in a family of brothers, it's not something that really worries her.

Well, I come from a big military family.

Almost every guy in our family is military.

Even her father is a marine.

I've always been interested in the military.

What is it about the military that really attracts you?

I think it's just the discipline part.

I've always been a pretty disciplined person on myself.

I just really like that kind of situation where everything's organized.

Caileen did so well on the military test that she could have easily had a desk job.

At first she thought she might want to go into logistics, but when she was given the option of combining two things she really loves, she jumped at it.

I adore and I love powerlifting, and it's just something that if I could continue to do it throughout the rest of my life, I would.

And at this rate, it looks like she will.

Did you know you're going to be a first female?

I knew I'd be one of the first.

I didn't know I'd be first as the first.

Caileen will be a role model for girls everywhere.

So what's the one thing she wants others to take away from knowing her?

That if you have the will and drive to do it, you can do it, and it doesn't matter where you come from.

You can't wait around for someone to do it for you.

You have to do it for yourself.

Another thing you notice about Caileen is that she's wise beyond her years.

And by the way, she excels in a lot more than just powerlifting.

Caileen is also an All-American cheerleader and an All-American dancer, and she's got to state in cross country as well.

Now to the story of yet another amazing Kansan.

This guy has been a photographer for 50 years, taking amazing pictures for National Geographic magazine.

But while he shot spectacular images from around the world, he may be most famous for his pics of rural Kansas, where he continues to make his home.

Justin Kramer introduces us to photographer Jim Richardson of Lindsborg.

Jim Richardson has taken some of the most stunning photographs ever seen traveling the world for National Geographic, but always returning home to Kansas.

A lot of those places are great places to travel.

They are great places to be part of my life.

But they're not.

They're not my home.

Home for Richardson now is Lindsborg., where he runs his gallery with his wife on Main Street, featuring his photography and her craft work.

Inspired by the many places around the globe they've traveled together.

It's a fun way to explore the world.

In many ways, Richardson's amazing career began not far away in Cuba, Kansas, a small farm town of just 200 people near the Nebraska state line.

He shot for newspapers in Topeka and Denver early in his career.

But his eye as a photographer began to truly focus, documenting ordinary life in rural Kansas.

Both of that unlocked many of the the things that I learned and and developed where I developed my my skills and also then came to understand, you know, what sort of what the real story was.

Cuba, Kansas is Jim Richardson's town.

He grew up just ten miles away in Belleville.

For 30 years, he photographed the people telling a story in pictures, a story he argues couldn't be told without becoming part of the town, frequently visiting while working for the papers and through the years in between assignments as a freelancer for National Geographic.

There were certain aspects of the story that I couldn't tell if I didn't understand them, and the only way I could understand them was become part of the community.

One of the basic tenets of journalism is objectivity, being dispassionate to the point of merely being disinterested.

Richardson tossed objectivity out the window for Cuba, realizing the only way to tell the true story of the people who live there was to immerse himself and become part of the town.

Entering into the culture to me, anymore is an essential piece of of understanding and being able to relate the story.

Being, being objective is, is a, is an easy cop out way of of not really knowing anything.

Richardson's work in Cuba first caught CBS news his eye back in 1983, not long after his book High School U.S.A. photo documenting adolescence over a three year span in Roswell, Kansas, began to receive critical acclaim.

In 2004, his 30 year photo essay on life in Cuba was published by National Geographic right alongside his expansive piece on the Great Plains.

His work has taken him from the brink of volcanoes to pubs in Scotland.

But growing up as a small town farm kid from Kansas, he continues to have a fascination with farming and how the world is fed.

When I go out and I meet somebody like, Juana Valerio growing potatoes up in the Andes or Rassama Camara that guy I photographed with sorghum in Mali.

You know, we kind of speak the same language.

Over the last decade, Richardson's work is focused more and more on agriculture, not only telling the story of how to feed the world in the future, but also profiling the farmers who do it now.

I find myself drawn more and more to the wild edges, out to those islands, to the places that are, in sort of the nonconformist fringe where, where people find a way of living their lives, and finding meaning, and, and creating their own meaning, really, you know, in, in places that are their own.

It's been a theme in nearly all of Richardson's work.

Finding the beauty in the simplest of landscapes and telling interesting stories from people in the simplest of places.

Things only look simple from a distance.

When you get in there, you know, you get down to it is, everybody is always going about as fast as they can go, and it doesn't seem to matter whether or not that's in, in New York City or out in, in some little burg, when you get down to the, to the, the details of people's lives, it's always complex and they're always balancing a million things.

Richardson says at this stage of his career, his reward is seeing how all the stories he's told through his lens come together as parts of a greater story.

A story he's told of people all around the world with Kansas woven throughout.

For Positively Kansas, I'm Justin Kramer.

If you'd like to see more of Jim Richardson's photography, look for the link on the Positivity Kansas page at KPTS.org.

I am so excited to be here with Clemma Stone and you were the first female referee of a men's basketball game in the state of Kansas, right?

Yes, ma'am.

That's so cool.

And I just think that is so interesting.

So what year was that?

That was 1962, in Dodge City at the Tournament of Champions.

Were you worried?

Was there a pressure on you to not mess up?

Because being the first female, you really wanted to do a good job?

I had I had had an opportunity to do some practicing with men's team because of town teams.

My husband then was a coach at Ada, Kansas, and I did some high school games just for fun.

and so I had some practice, so I didn't I didn't feel I didn't feel pressured.

I just knew that I could do the best I could, and that's all you can do.

Was the crowd excited to have you there?

Did they notice it was the first female?

According to the statistics, that was the biggest crowd they'd had.

Wow.

So it did work.

People did want to come see.

They wanted to see because there was no women officials around.

During the halftime of a Wichita State game.

You were inducted into a very special Hall of Fame.

Talk about that and how it felt to be honored, like you're saying, 55 years later.

Very, very humbling experience.

It was something I had never even dreamed of.

And, when I got the letter last fall that I would be inducted into the High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, I felt very, very honored.

What advice would you give?

Because there's still some things that women have not accomplished.

What advice would you give them to if there's some sort of career, something that they would like to do that maybe they haven't broken that that wall yet.

Probably be confident in themselves.

If it's something they want to do, go for it.

You never know when opportunities are gonna go, what kind of opportunities are going to open up.

But you have to believe in yourself to start with.

Clemma thank you so much for making the time to be here.

What an interesting experience, life experience to have had, and thank you for sharing it with us, I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Well, that's a wrap for this week, but we're working on more great stories for next time, including this one about a Hutchinson couple embarking on a cross-country motorcycle ride.

It wouldn't be that big of a deal, except she's 87 and he's 89.

The ride is to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.

That's must see TV for sure.

Also, who would have known?

I bet you had no idea that America's largest dealer of antique diving helmets was located in Wichita.

How did that happen, you ask?

You'll have to watch to find out.

We'll have those stories and many more.

I'm Sierra Scott.

Thanks for watching Positively Kansas.

We'll see you next time.

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The preceding program was brought to you by tz productions, offering 40 years of media experience.