Pi (ℼ) Day is coming up, and with it, our annual Pie Day fundraiser!! Last year was a massive, fruit-flavored success, netting us over 1500 dollars in sales and donations for the day! Thank you again to all those who supported last year’s event! This year, we hope to rival those numbers, but to do so, we need your help!

Mostly… that means pies. If you want to contribute to this year’s endeavor, fire up your oven or bug your baker friends. Any kind of pie is welcome, so feel free to get creative (or stick to what you know you can do well, up to you!). All we ask is that you describe your pie when you drop it off so we can make a label or pass that description on to a prospective buyer! To make it easier for everyone involved, I would also request that you put your pie in a disposable container or in something that you wouldn’t mind parting with. Feel free to drop off your pie at headquarters early in the morning day-of, or the night before. I will be there on Friday evening getting everything together from about 6-8pm.

We also need volunteers on ℼ Day! If you’re not pie-inclined and wish to contribute, we will need help out with set-up and clean-up, as well as individuals at headquarters throughout the event to assist with sales and also to just hang out and chit-chat! Additionally, we will need supplies, such as pie servers, plates, napkins, etc. Just let me know how you can help, if you so choose! My contact info is listed below, feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas as well.

We will also need people to buy our goodies! The fundraiser itself will take place on Pi(e) Day - Saturday, March 14th - and will tentatively run from 8am to 4-5pm (or whenever we run out of pies!) Stop by, say hi, and buy some pie at our headquarters, 217 A North Broadway. I will have attached a flyer either above or below this post with this information as well.

Keep up the good work, my friends. Maintaining your connections with one another is a small but critical way in which you can continue fighting the good fight. Thank you in advance!

In solidarity, 

Isaiah Harris

theharris180@gmail.com

620-670-0848

Our next regular Crawford County Democratic Party meeting will on March 15 at 1 pm at the Crawford County Democratic Headquarters.

It's an opportunity for us to come together, discuss our strategies and plan upcoming events. Your participation is vital to our collective success.

Please let Emily know if you have any items you'd like to see added to the agenda at emily@crawfordcountyksdems.org .

We are hoping to see everyone there!

There will be a No Kings event at the Pritchett Pavillion on Saturday, March 28 at 1 pm.  Programming details will be posted to Facebook as they emerge. Anyone willing to volunteer time or other resources toward this event is welcome to attend a planning meeting, which are every Thursday in March at 4pm at Headquarters.

— Sally Harryman

I have worked as a legal secretary all my life. I started at the San Bernardino County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office at age 20 working with criminal law. I have worked for firms working on class action lawsuits, corporate law, bankruptcy law, entertainment law and maritime law in Anchorage, Alaska working the Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation in 1989. Needless to say, I have met and worked with hundreds of lawyers. My last job was victim witness coordinator at the Crawford County Attorney office in Girard.

What I have never seen from an attorney was the blatant disrespect for law and our constitution by the Attorney General of the United States. In her meeting with Congress on Feb. 11, 2026, her appearance was performative. It was apparent that the performance was for an audience of one. Her lies, her statement the greatest president in American history, her remarks regarding the stock market, the disrespect for democratic representatives and her comebacks on their Trump derangement syndrome was quite a show.

But the vile disrespect for survivors of child rape and torture and even the lack of acknowledgement of those survivors directly behind her was the worst, most disgusting thing I have ever witnessed from any member of government. I believe this person belongs nowhere near the law and must be fired/impeached as soon as possible if we are to believe in the law!

— Jean Hurlbert Gillham

By Lynette Wescott

There are many fights for public education this year: Voucher bills, funding, cell phones, school breakfast and lunch programs, even one to require K-12 to learn about communism and socialism: 

• Under The Dome - https://www.ksutd.org/ - weekly updates from KNEA about education bills in Topeka

• Under The Dome podcast – a little more in-depth conversation about current bills - link

• Erin and Six Degrees of Activism – SubStack or Facebook

• Appleseed - link – Food issues and more in Kansas advocacy group

Events:

• March 6 and 7 - Washington Days - Topeka link

• March 14 - Pi Day - stay tuned 

• March 15 - 1:00 - Next Monthly Meeting at Headquarters

• March 28 - No Kings Day Rally - stay tuned

• March 28 - Bags To Riches - Safe House fundraiser- 5:30 - PSU 

• March 31 - 5:30 - 7:00 Local Impact: Get the Facts: Hunger in Kansas and Pittsburg, at Homer Cole, Pittsburg, KS

• April 28 - 5:30 - 7:00 Local Impact: Get the Facts: Education Funding and Our Local Schools at Homer Cole, Pittsburg, KS

Action Meetings: - Thursdays - 4:00 - Headquarters - check with Sally Harryman to know which Thursdays 

Calendar Event Details

Tuesday, March 31: 5:30-7:00 at Homer Cole, Pittsburg, KS– Hunger in Kansas and Pittsburg: Learn about the local and statewide impacts from federal and state changes in SNAP, school lunches, and more.  Review the bills from the 2026 legislation session. Learn how to advocate for our community. Food will be provided.  Guest speakers: Appleseed Kanas and Matt O’Malley from Wesley House.  Wesley House will also be accepting food donation items.  Email Lynette Wescott or Ruth Miller with questions.

Tuesday, April 28: 5:30 to 7:00 – Champions for Schools: Learn about school funding and impact of federal and state changes impacting our local students, programs, and educators.  Be updated on the passed education bills from the 2026 legislation session. Learn how to advocate for our community schools.  Food will be provided. Guest Speakers: Champions for Schools speakers and more.  Email Lynette Wescott or Ruth Miller with questions.

Bags To Riches: March 28 - 5:30 - Safe House fundraiser - email Lynette Wescott at lynettejwescott@gmail.com if you would like to sit at the Democrat table.   She will be purchasing a table for Crawford County Democrats.  There will be a designated table with a sign that says Crawford County Democrats.  The first nine people to email Lynette, she will save a ticket and a chair for you.  She is covering the cost of the table.  The event includes dinner, drinks, guest speakers, networking, and of course bidding on new and used fancy bags. 

Candidate Search

Please consider running for County Commissioner 3 that is currently held by Karl Wood.  District 3 covers most of Pittsburg, Baker, Opolis, and Chicapee,  The filing date is June 1st.  This is a paid position, currently around $46,300, and includes health insurance and retirement.   See the flyer for additional information.  If you have questions, please email so we connect you to answers and resources. 

As of February 15:  link to local filings:                   state filings link:

• Chuck Smith - refiled for House 2 - Republican

• Avery Rowland - filed for House 2 - DEMOCRAT

• Dan Muter - filed for House 3 - Republican

• Ken Collins - refiled for House 3 - Republican

• Bruce Blair - refiled for Crawford County Commissioner District 1

CCDP candidate search committee: Lynette Wescott lynettejwescott@gmail.com and Don Pyle dlpyle1976@outlook.com

The Kansas Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) welcomed Christy Davis as our Guest for the February zoom meeting. Ms. Davis is a Democratic candidate for the Senate office currently occupied by our absentee Republican senator, Roger Marshall. Of the aspiring Democratic primary candidates, Ms. Davis can boast of being the only one who has traveled to all of the counties in Kansas during her time working at the Department of Agriculture. She has established relationships across party lines with citizens in all those counties. She lives in the small town of Cottonwood Falls in Chase County, and understands how good schools, available healthcare, affordable housing, and well-paying jobs are vital for all Kansans. When any of these are missing, populations shrink and towns wither.

Ms. Davis sees government as an equalizer, a servant of the people, rather than a handmaiden of the wealthy. She expressed her belief that healthcare is a human right, not a commodity on which to make profits. Corporations are the greatest obstacle to reform of healthcare. Ms. Davis has been a civil servant and hopes to be one again. She believes that government is a better provider for many services, because it is accountable to the people, not a board of directors focused on maximizing profits for shareholders.

As usual, there was time for questions from the attendees about their concerns. Ms. Davis agrees that food insecurity is a challenge for too many Kansans and that no one should go hungry. She does not support for profit prisons and detention centers. She wants to keep the filibuster in the Senate, because it gives the minority party some leverage. She believes in the importance of civil service and is shocked at the loss of talent across government institutions. She is appalled by the ongoing genocide in Gaza. She asserts the importance of supporting our allies, while still holding them to account.

When I asked Melinda Levon, chair of the Progressive Caucus of the Kansas Democratic party what stood out about Ms. Davis, she said, “Her willingness to work with anyone on things that are good for Kansas; not taking Zionist, corporate money; being the only lifelong Kansan in the race; she has already worked in all 105 counties; and she’s actually working class, not a millionaire.”

We wish Ms. Davis well in her campaign, and hope that when she is elected she will remember to return to Kansas regularly to listen to what Kansans are saying. Wouldn’t that be a refreshing change? Ms. Davis does describe her superpower as her willingness to talk to anyone.

The guest we have scheduled for our March 11 zoom meeting is Colin McRoberts, who is running for U.S. Representative from CD1. There will be information on the Mobilize website soon, and if you are signed up to be a member of the Kansas PDA, I’ll be sending out information on email.

Washington Days is coming up March 6-8. We will be sharing a table with the Progressive Caucus of the Kansas Democratic Party. Guess the magic word and win a $100.

— James Orwig

Co-chair of Kansas Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America

Training is offered again at Crawford County Democratic Headquarters on Thursday, March 19 from 5 pm to 8:30 pm

What is deep canvassing?

Deep canvassing involves communication strategies to talk with people who disagree with us about societal or political issues. When we listen, share stories about our own lives, and communicate nonjudgmentally with genuine curiosity, we can build awareness of biases and become open to discuss sensitive issues. Research has shown that deep canvassing impacts voting behavior and community engagement and eliminates fear and division. The communication skills in deep canvassing also helps us foster relationships with friends and family members and talk about difficult social and political issues.

Traditional canvassing for candidates done close to an election is distinguished from deep canvassing which can be done months before an election season. We will discuss the stages of deep canvassing and practice the strategies.

For an informative and enjoyteable opportunity to learn transformative communication skills, take the leap to engage in a new way to talk to voters as well as family and friends.

Evening schedule:

Part 1 - 5 to 6:30 pm

6:30 to 7 - 30 minute break to enjoy potluck dinner together

Part 2 - 7 to 8:30 pm

For more information about deep canvassing check out this link: Deep Canvass Institute – People's Action | New Conversation Initiative

Contact me at 620 704-8566 or harrietanne7@gmail.com to sign up for the class. 

— Harriet Bachner, PhD, LCPC, LCMFT

By Mike Sand

The purpose of the Crawford County Democratic Headquarters is to provide a safe, centralized meeting location, comfortable and efficient work spaces for party officers and volunteers, social support to our members and reliable information to the community.

Currently, the office is open Wednesday through Friday from 10-1. It might be worth calling ahead of time if you’re coming from out of town, 620-670-6867.  The 2nd Thursday Action meetings are starting to pick up, as we’ve made progress with our ideas and plans. Start watching the hometown news for the Dem’s monthly ad! Our next Action meeting at headquarters is planned for Thursday, March 12 at 4 pm.

Come in and work for a couple of hours!  Nothing like dedicating some time and energy toward electing qualified candidates to provide one with some hope. Comments and suggestions regarding our Headquarters can be sent to sally@crawfordcountyksdems.org.

Also, if the KS GOP comes around wanting to check our bathroom situation we are covered. Both are unisex.  Peace!

— Sally Harryman

to the contributors to the Crawford County Democratic Revue 2024-26

Every month Phil and I seek out folks who would be willing or interested in contributing a special interest article, a summary of activities in one of the CCD groups (e.g. Liberal Ladies, Young Democrats), requests for participation in an event or fund raiser, report on community events, poetry, short story or an opinion piece. Many have agreed to share their information, reports, and writing talent with those who receive the CCD monthly newsletter. We want to acknowledge and thank these folks.

Current monthly contributors

Susy Hammons, Sally Harryman, Emily Walters, Mike Sand, Delma Thompson, Jim Orwig

Former or current candidates for local office who wrote about their candidacy

Jackson Bertoncino, Christy Davis, Emily George, Isaiah Harris, Ruth Miller, Shaileen Owens, Melesia “Lissa” Rhodes, Avery Rowland

Contributors

Kim Allison, Janice Arthur, Dionne Blakemore, Sandy Casey, Jim Fredette, Thomas Gagnon, Jean Hurlbert Gillham, Lynn Grant, Blaise Jacks, Joe Kennedy, J.T. Knoll, Mike Nagle, Bert Patrick, Linda Pratt, Mark Peterson, Don Pyle, Jeanna Repass, Sophia Stapleton, Nancy Tomassi, Laura Washburn, George Weeks, Marcia Weeks, Lynette Wescott, Lydia Zerr, Hadrian Zurek

Please accept our apology and let us know if we have not listed you.

— Harriet Bachner & Phil Burgert

By Mike Sand

Minnesota is going to be having an epidemic of health issues caused by the ingestion of excessive amounts of tear gas, pepper spray, and whatever the hell else these loathsome ICE agents are using. Given the gross volume of chemical agents employed, this is like nothing I’ve ever seen on a news report showing peaceful demonstrations. Holding the protesters head while shooting the crap right into their eyes!!This could lead to vision problems or even blindness. When Mr. Pretti was caught on film kicking at a tail lamp on an ICE vehicle, more than likely that was his response to seeing this kind of treatment by government agents. Which is the greater crime? It depends on if you value “stuff” over people or people’s rights

Who are the individuals doing this? We should be entitled to know because there should be accountability. Wait a second – this is designed so there won’t be any accountability. It was part of the plan from the beginning. And this plan began at the highest level of government. The sorry excuse that followed from the White House was that these men deserved the anonymity because they shouldn’t be followed home when their day was done. These “patriots” deserved a peaceful evening just like any good working stiff. I suppose that’s probably correct. It sounds “right” Destroying a Constitution that’s held us together for 250 years and then completely destroying it in a matter of months, takes a concentrated effort.

It appears as if the required sacrificial staffers have been assembled and each is awaiting their turn to be cast under the bus. The real villains, however, will not be in any danger as they will cast the blame to wherever it does the best for their purposes. No sympathy is required here. Each of these scapegoats knew going into it, that the final job qualification was to be willing to take one for the team.

We are living in a time of extensive investigations. Any Democrat who has ever sought the truth, or even stood up for its defense, or any Republican who simply told Trump “no” is being investigated. How about doing one more? Let’s look at all those used teargas and pepper spray canisters and see if there’s a way to connect them somehow to Trump or Trump Industries. It wouldn’t be a coincidence and certainly not a surprise.

I am so pissed off!

Article submissions are needed from Crawford County Democrats and friends about issues and topics we should all be thinking about. Let us publish your thoughts in this Revue, for distribution to county Democrats and others across the state. Back issues of thr newsletter are also on the website at https://www.crawfordcountyksdems.org/newsletter.

Please email your thoughts or those of your caucuses and interest groups for publication in the county party’s newsletter to news@crawfordcountyksdems.org. Accompanying photographs or other ideas for illustrating your articles are also welcome. Feel free to ask questions by text or phone of newsletter crew Harriet at 620-704-8566 or Phil at 708-466-0659. Also please include your phone number with your message in case we have questions for you.

We look forward to hearing from you!