Citizens work to save Boelus Post Office in jeopardy of closing
by
Jordan Shefte
Story Created:
Jun 13, 2011 at 9:10 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jun 13, 2011 at 9:10 PM CDT
The Post Office is a place you expect to be there when you need it--for a stamp, a package, or your morning news.
But, the town of Boelus is as risk of losing its post office, and town members are fighting to keep it.
The town received intentions of closing their post office about a month and a half ago.
The community members are afraid of what the consequences may be if this happens.
In a small town, the post office serves as more than just a place where mail is collected.
It is a gathering spot, the center of the community.
"It's kind of a meeting place, and everything is mailed out of here pretty much," said supermarket owner Euggne Whitefoot.
In Boelus, Nebraska, the post office is a place for socializing.
"You know, you're going in and out of the post office and you're seeing your neighbors and you're able to stop in there and talk and there's always stuff up hanging up telling you what's going on in town and talking to the post master sometimes you find new things out," said Alicia Bonczynski. "In morning everybody comes and goes and visits as they get their mail and I think it's just one more friendship thing that we have in town."
The entrance to the post office has been a revolving door where community members come and go as they please. But, the doors may soon be sealed shut for good.
That is if the Postal Department follows through on their intentions to close the office down.
Small town post offices across the United States are being taken out of business because of budgets.
"They've lost 2 billion the first period here and they expect to lose 8 billion dollars and I think they're just cutting, trying to cut a lot of little post offices and think that will be the solution to the problem," said Russell Jensen, town treasurer. "I think they need to start and cut at the top rather than at the bottom."
They also feel that a closing like this could be harmful to the community.
There will be a meeting with the Postal Department on June 28th.
At this meeting, the members of Boelus will have the chance to speak their concerns about the closing.
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