30 years ago – May 5, 1989
After what he described as one of the longest “pregnancies” in history, Jack and Pat Curtis are the proud parents of a baby girl. The Curtis’s only recently learned that a five month old girl was on her way to them after waiting a year and a half.Angela Kay arrived from Korea and the Curtis’s proudly showed her off to staff, students, and friends at the Gilpin County School on Tuesday. Since it was her first day out and about in Gilpin County, Angela was a bit overwhelmed by all the oohs and aahs. Coach Curtis has been employed at the Gilpin County School for seven years; he is currently on paternity leave. Pat, who is a teacher down the hill, also has taken leave from her job to spend time with the couple’s new daughter.
Marge Quiller was found guilty Thursday of choosing to abandon her teaching duties after only 45 years of loving devotion to the students of Gilpin County. A jury of elementary students heard testimony from their peers, all Gilpin County School students, that “Ms. Q” gave her students lots of love, liked to play games and have fun with the kids, and that other children would miss out by not having her as their teacher. She helped students with reading, did a good job and made them feel good about themselves, other witnesses reported. In addition, during lunch period, Ms. Q was often seen helping students with work they hadn’t yet completed. Other testimony showed that Ms. Q not only ran the elementary library, she also made reading fun. “Teachers like her make the world go ‘round,” stated one witness. The evidence “against” her was overwhelming. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” said the prosecuting attorney to his fellow students, “as you have seen, the defendant has given much love and devotion to the students here at Gilpin County School. I believed we have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that future students are going to be deprived of the defendant’s special brand of love and teaching which has benefitted previous students here. I appeal to the jury to recognize the fact that Marge Quiller is guilty in the first degree of abandoning these duties.” Upon her conviction, the presiding judge sentenced Quiller to a long and happy retirement and to accepting the good wishes and symbols of appreciation being expressed to her. The guilty party was then given flowers and hugs by the students who had testified during the trial.
Support authors and subscribe to content
Subscribe to read the entire article.
