About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 2024)
LIFE The Times, Gainesville, Georgia lgainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition-March 29-30, 2024 3B Armadillos digging up local lawns at an unusually high rate Photo by Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Over the past month our exten sion office has been inundated with calls from citizens asking what could have come onto their property during the night and dug dozens of holes in their lawn. After looking at photos of the damage sent in by these citizens, it was quick to determine the culprit was an armadillo. I am always surprised that many of our residents are unaware that armadil los can be found in Hall County. They have been here for several years now, and have even been reported farther north in Towns County and North Carolina. Armadillos can destroy flower beds, root up lawns and test the sanity of homeowners. They are considered an invasive species — and based on the calls I've been getting lately — they have been more actively foraging this year than I have ever seen. Armadillo feeding activ ity can cause damage in a wide range of places — including lawns, flower beds, vegetable gardens, golf courses, sports fields, and orchards. Armadillos can even cause structural issues when they dig bur rows around and under homes and buildings. The most common complaints against armadillos are from the extensive digging they do while searching for food. They feed on inverte brates that live in the upper layers of the soil. Using their long noses and forefeet, they can eas ily dig dozens of shallow holes in lawns or gardens overnight. The holes are typically 3 to 5 inches across and taper down to a point like an ice cream cone. The armadillos we have in Hall County are a spe cies called the nine-banded armadillo and are about the size of an opossum or large house cat. They can be 24 to 32 inches long, with 9 to 14 inches of that being the tail. The larger adult males can weigh between 12 and 17 pounds and appear brown to yellow-brown in color, with a hard, armor like shell. Armadillos may carry diseases transmissible to humans, but reports are rare. Armadillos can acquire leprosy and are used in medical research to study this disease. How ever, very few cases are known in which a human contracted leprosy from wild armadillos. But be careful if you encounter an armadillo in close range. They often jump several feet off the ground when frightened, and you can be injured if you're too close. Most methods used to reduce damage caused by wildlife don't usually work with armadillos. There are currently no repellents, toxicants, or fumigants registered for use with armadillos. Fencing is not a great option because armadillos are good at both burrowing under and climbing over them. If you want to try exclu sion fencing, you'll need to install the fencing at a minimum of 2 feet high and 18 inches deep around the areas you're trying to protect. Armadillos aren't the sharpest tool in the shed. If they hit a solid barrier, they will often follow this barrier until they can get around it. One method of capture that takes advantage of this habit has been to lure them into live traps using 1x6 boards placed in a V-arrangement in front of the trap to funnel the arma dillo into the trap. Setting traps along natural barriers like logs or the side of a building can increase cap ture success. Placing the trap in front of a burrow entrance is better than random place ment in the environment. But even with this strat egy, capture rates can be low. My family home in Watkinsville had become such a draw for armadillos that my father bought an expensive trap and had it shipped all the way from Mississippi — which has actually worked — he trapped 17 this past summer. Due to armadillos being invasive, they can be hunted any time of the year. Check our city and county ordinances if you decide to do this. It appears that armadil los are becoming more common in Hall County. If they become troublesome at your home or farm, try following the suggestions I've given. You can always call the Hall County Extension office for infor mation on management of any nuisance wildlife you're experiencing. Garrett Hibbs is Hall County's UGA cooperative extension agent. He can be reached at ghibbs@uga.edu. w -m GARRETT HIBBS ghibbs@uga.edu US changes race, ethnicity categorization BY COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — For the first time in 27 years, the U.S. government is changing how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity, an effort that federal officials believe will more accurately count residents who identify as Hispanic and of Middle Eastern and North African heritage. The revisions to the minimum categories on race and ethnicity, announced Thursday by the Office of Management and Budget, are the latest effort to label and define the people of the United States. This evolving process often reflects changes in social attitudes and immigration, as well as a wish for people in an increasingly diverse society to see themselves in the numbers produced by the federal government. “You can’t underestimate the emotional impact this has on people,'’ said Meeta Anand, senior director for Census & Data Equity at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “It's how we conceive ourselves as a society.... You are seeing a desire for people to want to self-identify and be reflected in data so they can tell their own stories.'’ Under the revisions, questions about race and ethnicity that previously were asked separately on forms will be combined into a single question. That will give respondents the option to pick multiple categories at the same time, such as “Black,’’ ‘American Indian’’ and “Hispanic.’’ Research has shown that large numbers of Hispanic people aren't sure how to answer the race question when that question is asked separately because they understand race and ethnicity to be similar and they often pick “some other race’’ or do not answer the question. A Middle Eastern and North African category will be added to the choices available for questions about race and ethnicity. People descended from places such as Lebanon, Iran, Egypt and Syria had been encouraged to identify as white, but now will have the option of identifying themselves in the new group. Results from the 2020 census, which asked respondents to elaborate on their backgrounds, suggest that 3.5 million residents identify as Middle Eastern or North African background. Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, said that while she was “incredibly happy’’ with the new category, that enthusiasm was tempered by the omissions. “It is not reflective of the racial diversity of our community,’’ Berry said. “And it's wrong.’’ FROM IB Vardeman Athens. Academy Street leads to the former Brenau Academy, but it wasn't established until 1928. Apparently the name originated with another academy in the late 1800s, probably located on the comer of North Bradford and what became Academy Street. At that same April 1875 meeting, council members ordered a map with the new street names be com missioned. That might have been the first official map of the city. H.S. Bradley was mayor at the time and served with six aldermen. Johnny Vardeman is retired editor of The Times and can be reached at 2183 Pinetree Circle NE, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; phone 770-532-2326; and email johnnyvardeman@gmail.com. The Times File Photo KITCHEN INSPECTIONS: MARCH 21-27, 2024 Times Staff Reports Nearly 40 food service establishments were inspected this week, and all but two rated an “A.’’ In fact, half of them - including several chain restaurants and Mexican restaurants - scored a perfect 100. This week's low score was 87, given to a Mexican restaurant. How it works Food service establishments are given a letter grade that corresponds to a percentile: “A” (90-100), “B” (80-89), “C” (70-79), “U” (69 and below). Inspections (and their frequency) are conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type is determined by the menu items served, the food preparation processes performed and the previous food safety history in that establishment. A new food service establishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a permit to operate. When a restaurant changes ownership, a new food service permit must be issued. To be issued a permit for a change of ownership, the establishment must score a 95 (A) or above with all foodborne illness risk factors and public health interventions in compliance. Permits must be posted in public view at all times. Establishments with drive-thru windows are required to have the top one-third of a copy of the most current inspection report visible through each window, allowing customers to easily read the score, date of inspection and establishment information, in addition to the copy posted inside the establishment. Copies of the rules are available at the Hall County Environmental Health Office. The rules and regulations are also available online at dph.georgia.gov/ environment al-health- inspections. To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973. Latest scores MARCH 21 Chicken Salad Chick #75 Location: 1122 Dawsonville Highway, Suite 500, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Standard Service Location: 400 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 90, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Waffle House #1543 Location: 509 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Healthy & Happy Nutrition Location: 3004 McEver Road, Gainesville Score: 91, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Wendy’s Restaurant #160 Location: 1429 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif The Spot (Apple Burger LLC DBA) Location: 891 Dawsonville Highway, Suite 130, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen University of North Georgia - Gainesville Dining Services Location: 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu McDonald’s Location: 7370 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif MARCH 22 Chick-fil-A @ Road Atlanta Location: 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Hardee's #1505983 Location: 4538 Oakwood Road, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen 787 La Hacienda Location: 78 Hospital Dr., Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Biscuit Delight Location: 3605 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Ingles Starbucks #412 Location: 4260 Winder Highway, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Mutt & Jeff’s Smokehouse @ Road Atlanta Location: 5301 Winder Highway, Braselton Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Sonny’s BBQ & Road Atlanta Location: 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Taqueria El Mercadito Location: 275 Pearl Nix Parkway, Suite 2, Gainesville Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Bruster’s Location: 165 John W. Morrow Jr. Parkway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif The Hickory Pig Location: 3605 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush MARCH 25 G Sister Restaurant & Kettle Corn Location: 6986 McEver Road, Suite A, Buford Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Scooter’s Coffee Location: 2010 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Target Starbucks T-2387 Location: 5865 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Stevi B’s Location: 1500 Browns Bridge Road, Suite 119, Gainesville Score: 94, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Starbucks #682 Location: 1931 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Suite 106, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Senor Fiesta #2 Location: 1943 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Suite 900, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Hot Dog Ninja - Base of Operation Location: 3543 Poplar Springs Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Hot Dog Ninja - Mobile Location: 3543 Poplar Springs Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Domino’s Pizza #3572 Location: 4841 Hog Mountain Road, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen MARCH 26 Hashtag Poke Location: 4009 Winder Highway, Suite 205, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen El Carreton #2 Location: 400 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville Score: 89, Grade: B Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Blue’s Jamaican Restaurant Jerk Center Location: 5370 Lanier Islands Parkway, A-l, Buford Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Coastal Breeze Location: 5390 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford Score: 94, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh MARCH 27 Little Italy on Riverside Location: 990 Riverside Dr. NE, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Waffle House #885 Location: 2507 Pentee Dr., Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Curt’s Restaurant Location: 3440 Branch Road, Flowery Branch Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Hibachi Buffet Location: 1500 Browns Bridge Road, Suite 117, Gainesville Score: 92, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Pueblos Mexican Cuisine Location: 3630 Thompson Bridge Road, Suite 1, Gainesville Score: 87, Grade: B Inspector: DeShayla Bush Sumo Hibachi & Wings Location: 3640 Mundy Mill Road, Suite 102-A, Gainesville Score: 92, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif PSL Gainesville Subtenant LLC Location: 2601 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh
