Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago – November 15, 1985

Snow started falling in Gilpin County Friday night and by the time it was over the county had experienced its first major snowstorm of the season. City, county and state road crews worked day and night to clear the roads. About two feet of snow were reported at the top of Wedgwood Subdivision. Bob Dornbrock, County Road Supervisor, said 14 ½ inches fell at the county shop. His assistant, Tim Logan, said the Rollinsville area had 14 to 16 inches. Dave Woodring, head of the state crew, said Lakeview Subdivision had 15 inches. Central City and Black Hawk had over 14 inches. Right at the beginning of the storm, about 8:30 Friday night, one of the state trucks hit a sewer manhole cover on Highway 279, the road through Black Hawk to Central. That put the fan through the radiator, so Woodring borrowed a standby truck from the state people in Golden. Tuesday evening, snow began falling again, but the monster storm that was predicted did not materialize. Only an inch or two fell before the storm fizzled. By 10:00 p.m., the stars were out in Central. The brief storm took its toll, though on one of Woodring’s trucks. It had engine trouble, and was still stuck on Highway 119 Wednesday. So, he was temporarily using two borrowed trucks. Yesterday morning, it was dreary and snowing again.

Mike Kervitsky, former supervisor of transportation at the Gilpin County RE-1 School, and the school board have reached a settlement on Kervitsky’s contract which totals approximately $7,500. According to School Superintendent Fred Meyers, the agreement states that Kervitsky will receive $6,000, less all applicable state and federal taxes, plus $1,500 for his attorney fees. The school, thus the taxpayers, will pay for all of that. Additionally, Meyers said Kervitsky’s effective date to resign was November 1, 1985. Kervitsky will not seek re-employment at the school. He has agreed to release the school from all obligations in his contract. The agreement also states that answers made to any employment inquiries made to the school will be limited to his name, address, length of employment at the school, and a statement that his employment at the school was satisfactory. Kervitsky was suspended from his position at the school in October. A fact-finding hearing was held by the board to decide if he should resign or if he would be retained at the school. Kervitsky was suspended after all seven school buses were red tagged by the state because they had not been properly inspected. Board President Kay Lorenz said last week that evidence or testimony at the hearing will not be released without Kervitsky’s consent to a release. Why the settlement offer was made to Kervitsky will not be disclosed.