Two Sparks women fight different HOAs to allow non-profit yard signs

Sparks, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Two women are fighting their different homeowner associations for the signs they placed in their yards that they say promote a positive message from a non-profit organization.

Kerri Countess runs the non-profit Forever14. It raises awareness and works to prevent teen suicide. She started the organization after her 14-year-old son Caleb Stenvold died by suicide in 2019.

Every September, Countess puts up signs on her Sparks lawn of other teens who have died by suicide as part of National Suicide Prevention Month. The signs have messages from their families.

Countess also includes signs with positive message that have the 988 suicide hotline number on them.

"This is the fifth season that I've put these signs out for September Suicide prevention and Awareness Month," she said.

Countess takes the signs down at the end of September.

In the past, Countess said she's received a letter from her homeowners association, Wingfield Springs Community Association and the Board of Directors.

"I've always received a letter from the association saying that, you know, these signs don't comply. But then they've taken a look at the picture that they took, and they realized that this isn't a fight that they want to take up," Countess said. "But this year and last week, I received a phone call from the association saying, we need to schedule you a hearing. And so I said, but these are political signs and she said, they're not the right kind of political signs."

Countess says it's the colorful signs with the inspirational messages that include the suicide hotline that the HOA told her they have a problem with.

In a letter to Countess, the Wingfield Springs Community Association said "no signs, posters, billboards, advertising devices, or other displays of any kind shall be displayed on a lot of condominiums so as to be visible from outside any lot of condominium without the approval of the Design Review Committee, except such signs of customary and reasonable color, appearance, content and dimensions (as determined by the Design Review Committee) as may be displayed on each lot of from each condominium advertising the lot of condominium for sale or lease."

Countess said the HOA allows political signs, but not not hers.

If my neighbors can have political signs up during political season, then why can't I?" Countess said.

In an email from Associa Sierra North that represents the board, a spokesperson said they "will not be providing a statement to any news outlet." When News 4-Fox 11 called, they hung up.

Countess is not alone. Amanda Thebodeau planted one of Forever 14's signs in her yard with a positive message that said "give tomorrow a chance." The sign also had the 988 suicide prevention number on it. The sign was important to Thebodeau.

"Myself, I have struggled with mental health and my teenager also struggles with mental health, so it's something that means a lot to me," she said.

Soon after the sign went up she got a letter that her HOA, Nevada Community Management Association, considered it advertising and was not allowed.

"I told them a little bit about Caleb's story and what forever 14 is and the purpose of everything and, just told them that I wasn't taking it down," she said. "I got a response about a week later, and all our community manager said is, this is closed. Thank you."

So the sign will stay.

Thebodeau hopes Countess' case has the same resolution.

I think that there needs to be some compassion and there also maybe needs to be some education, some awareness," Thebodeau said.

Countess had a formal 15 minute meeting in front of her HOA board on September 5. She said she presented her case and the board said it would let her know its decision within ten days. She could face a $200 fine.

Countess said she'll pay the money if she's fined and continue to put up the signs. She said the message and Forever 14's mission is too important.

Ironically, Forever14 adopted Pelican Park across the street from Countess' house and a within the HOA's jurisdiction, the City of Sparks sign advertises her non-profit organization.