EPHRAIM—The Sanpete Kindness Foundation received a warm reception at the recent Ephraim City Council meeting on Wednesday Sept. 7, as Linda Christiansen presented a couple of signs for the city to put up wherever they wanted to promote kindness in the city.
Mayor John Scott said the city also wants to get some “kindness” stickers to put on city and emergency vehicles.
“With Sept. 4-10 being National Suicide Prevention Week, we want to increase awareness of ways to tell people that if they are thinking of suicide, they are not alone, and help is available,” Linda Christensen, founder of Sanpete Kindness, told the city council.
The stickers haven’t been designed yet, but other cities are asking for them, along with Ephraim, Christensen said.
The foundation, now an official non-profit organization, has now placed 400 signs (with another 100 on order) containing positive messages. Signs are given to anyone who wants one. Typical statements on the sign are, “Life is tough, but so are you,” “One Day at a Time,” and “Be Kind to Yourself.”
The foundation held a softball tournament last June and is visiting Sanpete County municipalities to get approval for spreading education about suicide prevention and promoting positive thinking. Recently, Christiansen also spearheaded a “Butterfly” mural at the Ephraim Family Park.
The council offered to make a donations to the foundation in return for the stickers and signs the group is offering.
The council also discussed a grant request the city is submitting to the Utah Community Impact Board (CIB) for help building the new Ephraim Crossing Road, designed to accommodate growth in the south end of town.
If approved, the grant would pave the way for the development of a stoplight intersection with U.S. 89 and the Ephraim Crossing road, coordinated with the Utah Department of Transportation.
Finally, the council approved a conditional use permit for property at 716 N. 80 East (about a block east of WalMart) for a dog boarding facility, which would be run by Janika Sorenson.
The property is zoned commercial (C2). The conditional use permit requires Sorenson to install animal-friendly turf, which would help with odors; a new fence along the south side of the building (play area for the dogs); and landscaping.
