Gold star program working well in area

Assistant Hill County Sanitarian Heidi Bischoffhe said the gold star program she instituted is working well in Havre and surrounding areas.

"I think the program is going pretty well," Bischoff said. "In one quarter I have awarded a lot of gold stars. I hope that people know what the gold stars mean when they see one in the window. I have had some people tell me that they base where they eat on the gold star program. I hope that there are more participants."

The program is based on a point system, Bischoff explained. On her inspection form, basically getting a gold star means that the food service operation is fulfilling good food safety standards at the time of the inspection.

Bischoff hopes she can contact all food service operations in the county soon.

"Some people have not even been contacted. It will take at least another seven months to contact everyone," Bischoff said. "So if your favorite restaurant is not on the list, it could simply mean that they have not been inspected. By October it will be complete, but it is ever-changing."

To date, gold stars have gone to the following Hill County businesses: Oxford Bar, Palace Bar, Shamrock Bar, Wendy's, Bull Hook Bottoms Casino, 15 West, Taco Johns (Fifth Avenue), Wolfer's Diner, Magic Diamond Casino, Taco Time, Rod's Drive Inn, Subway/TCBY, Boxcar's, The Park Restaurant, Gildford Merc, Kelly's Pub, Inverness Bar and Cafe, and Hiway Bar and Services.