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U.S. Postal Service will cut hours in rural locations
Many of the nation's postal services will cut their retail window hours, including offices right here in rural Nebraska.
Previously 3700 were set to close, now as part of a new strategy 13,000 post offices will re-align hours. Retail hours will be based on customer use. In fact, starting Tuesday local post office managers are hosting public meetings to discuss the future of rural town postal services. Not much happens around the quaint town of Harvard. But one thing is certain the post office is a big deal. "I don't think closing is a good idea at all," said Anthony Jarzynka. Congress reprieved on its deal to close thousands of rural post offices because of people like Anthony Jarzynka who refused to let it happen. "We can do the reduced hours because I'm always around town, the people that have to commute they're going to have a hard time getting their mail or bigger packages," said Jarzynka. Come 2014 Harvard will operate only six hours instead of eight. "I don't think it'll affect me much unless I need to come in and get stamps or mail a package would be the biggest thing," said Russell Swartzel. In small town communities like Trumbull post offices are often considered the lifeblood of the community.Just one of the reasons why residents here say they'd rather see reduced hours versus a complete shut down. Mike Harmon stops through Harvard during the lunch hour, but he's a resident of Trumbull and raises livestock. He fears reduced hours could impact business. "Checks supposed to be coming or notification of funds transferred. Those things we like to know what's going on, is it lost where is it?" said Harmon. Most residents in Trumbull have already received a mail-in survey requesting reduced hours as opposed to closing their post office and solely using curbside delivery, a nearby post office or a Village Post office inside a local business. On that survey 60 percent or more patrons must elect one of three options that would close their post office. Most have chosen reduced hours. This is a two year process. The hours will go into effect by September 2014. It is expected that the U.S. Postal Service will save $500 million annually. |
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