The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department recently released its latest round of unannounced safety inspections, revealing a mixed bag of compliance across local schools, hotels, and dining establishments between October 16 and October 22. While many facilities passed without incident, several others struggled with hygiene issues ranging from simple maintenance gaps to more concerning pest problems. According to health officials, these visits serve primarily as educational tools to help business owners identify unsafe habits and rectify them quickly.
Some of the most significant findings occurred during mid-week checks. Applebees Bar and Grill faced four violations, including reports of mice droppings near an ice machine and pink mildew inside the bin. Similarly, Twin Dragon Chinese Restaurant recorded eight separate infractions, which included improper food labeling in freezers and employees drinking beverages directly on the cook line. In the school system, Destiny Christian Academy was flagged for mouse droppings beneath a sink, triggering a mandatory reinspection to ensure the problem is fully resolved.
Hospitality services also saw various lapses in protocol. The Fairfield Inn pool experienced five violations related to outdated records and incorrect chemical levels in the water, while Frontier Inn Breakfast was cited for lacking a fire suppression hood system and failing to provide proper hair coverings for staff. Other minor issues popped up throughout the county, such as weak sanitizer buckets at Cole Elementary and uncovered coffee filters at another hotel location.
Health inspectors categorize these findings into red critical violations, which could potentially lead to foodborne illnesses, and black non-critical violations focused on general upkeep. Most issues are expected to be fixed on the spot or within twenty-four hours. For those requiring official reinspections, like Buffalo Ridge Elementary due to a lack of certified management, businesses typically have ten days to bring their operations back up to code. Full detailed reports remain available for public viewing on the health department’s official website.
