By Robert Lucke
The Gold Star award program, started a little over a year ago by the Hill County Health Department, is doing well, according to Hill County sanitarian Heidi Bischoff.
Bischoff explained the program.
"The Gold Star Program is an effort to encourage Hill County food establishments to comply with local and state health codes, which will reduce the risk of foodborne illness and disease associated with food preparation and increase responsibility among food service managers," she said.
The program is voluntary.
"The program is in both Blaine and Hill counties, and I am pleased with the results so far," Bischoff said.
She noted that several new food purveyors have picked up gold stars lately and a few have lost theirs.
She cautioned that the stars are awarded on a point system to food service establishments based on just one visit and that conditions could change before the next visit.
Nevertheless, she said, more stars are being awarded with each Hill County Health Department inspection.
The list of Hill County food service purveyors that were members of the Gold Star Program at the end of last year were Oxford Bar, Palace Bar, Shamrock Bar, Bullhook Bottoms Casino, Magic Diamond Casino, Kelly's Pub, Inverness Bar and Caf, Lucky Lil's Casino, Gallery Lounge, Wolfer's Diner, Rod's Drive In, Subway/TCBY, Boxcars, Gildford Merc, Eagles Nest, Quench and Bench, Gallery Restaurant, Uncle Joe's, Parthenon, Arctic Circle, Emporium, 15 West, Horizon Room, Pizza Pro, the Lunchbox, McDonald's, PJ's Lounge, Family Scoop, Noon's 566 and 576, Taco Treat, Kmart and Pizza Hut.
