How To Be Kind – A Simple Reminder to Slow Down
Sometimes the most powerful messages aren’t complicated—they’re just honest. This short video is a reminder to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what really matters. In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, be more, and chase more… it’s easy to lose sight of the small moments that actually shape our lives. Take […]
Teacher of the Month: Carla Vela at Maple Ridge Elementary
Miss Carla Vela is in her third year of teaching and is a fourth grade teacher at Maple Ridge Elementary. The following is an excerpt from a parent recommendation letter: Miss Carla Vela is one of those teachers that you dream your child will have. She is not only the most incredible teacher and makes […]
The One Who Cries Wolf
Most of us learned the story as children. A boy, bored and craving attention, shouts that a wolf is attacking the sheep. The villagers rush to help. There is no wolf. He laughs. He does it again. They come again. Still no wolf. Eventually, a real wolf appears. He cries out, but this time no […]
‘Grief does not need to be fixed’: Santaquin woman seeks to help others following her own loss
Patti Merrill knows what it’s like to grieve deeply, and she is turning that grief into something beautiful. “Grief does not need to be fixed; grief needs to be witnessed, acknowledged and accompanied,” Merril told Serve Daily. One year ago, Patti Merrill of Santaquin, lost her husband, Roland Merrill, to terminal cancer, after what she […]
Adopted by an Officer. Becoming an Officer. A Journey to Lift Others.
Life was never meant to be easy. The older I get, the more I understand that. The uphill climb is not the punishment; it is the path. I did not choose to sleep in a homeless shelter. I did not choose foster care. I did not choose the instability or the pain I was born […]
Life’s Giants: The Hidden Cost of Facing Them Alone
We all have giants. Some are obvious: Financial pressure, health concerns, business uncertainty. Others are quieter: Tension at home. A drifting relationship. A teenager who won’t talk. The quiet sense that you’re capable of more but unsure how to move forward. The giants themselves aren’t new. What is often overlooked is the hidden cost of […]
Italian Place = Hearty Steak Sandwiches (But Why the Name?)
So you may see the name “Italian place” and think of your typical classic Italian food like pasta, pizza, and Italian cuisine. However, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that the Italian Place is the go-to place for hearty steak sandwiches in Utah County. The Italian Place started out in 1972 when a sandwich […]
SFPD Sgt. Phil Neilsen Retires After 25 Years
February 12 marked the retirement of Sgt. Phil Neilsen of the Spanish Fork Police Department, and many in the community gathered to thank him for his 25 years of service. Administrative Lt. Cory Slaymaker has been at the department with Sgt. Nielsen for the past 25 years, and he said that he will be “difficult […]
Sand Between Your Toes: Inside Beach House, the Indoor Volleyball Spot Bringing Summer Vibes Year-Round
As a belated cold finally descends on Utah County, a different kind of scene is unfolding behind unassuming doors. The energy is high, laughter echoes, and players dive barefoot into warm sand, chasing a volleyball under bright lights. It feels like summer, but it’s happening year-round at Beach House, Utah County’s indoor beach volleyball facility. […]
Beyond the Crash: Finding Purpose in Service After Life-Altering Trauma
One year ago, a semi-truck driver’s wife’s biggest worry and worst nightmare came true. The day started off as any normal day would: I woke up, started work and anticipated the end of the work week. My husband was excited to take our then 4-year-old granddaughter ice fishing on the weekend. He was on his […]