HICKORY, N.C. — The state is shutting down a Hickory daycare after it was hit with more than 70 violations this year, including falsifying documents to accurate record-keeping and cleanliness.
Emily Keith has worked at the daycare for six years and said she hopes she doesn't lose her job at D's Lovin Day Care.
"I believe that God is going to take care of everything and that everything is going to work out," Keith said.
Another daycare employee, Lynn Peterson, agreed.
"On all the violations, I don't think it's fair, and a lot of people are going to be out of jobs," she said.
The Notice of Administrative Action was posted on the building after the state conducted six visits earlier this year.
They found that the operator willfully falsified records regarding training, potentially hazardous items not being stored properly and electrical sockets not covered with safety plugs.
Drilane Garrett, who has operated the daycare for more than a decade, said that most of the violations focused on record-keeping something she says she has worked hard to correct.
"I'm going to keep my daycare open, and I'm going to fight it until the end. I love my kids, and this is my heart, and I'm not going to give up," Garrett said.
We spoke with several parents who are supportive of the owner but didn't want to go on camera.
The daycare lost close to 100 children when the state pulled funding for low income families.
Channel 9 asked Garrett about allegedly falsifying records.
"One of my employees left and she came back and I had to do another background check and I didn't know that," Garrett said.
This afternoon she showed Channel 9 where other violations have been corrected from peeling paint on shelves to covered wall sockets.
For now, she said a temporary license allows her to stay open until she can determine the state's decision early next year.
Channel 9 has reached out to the state about the facility's temporary license but have not heard back.
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