News 88.9 KNPR's State of Nevada -- Will the Small Town Post Office Disappear

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Will the Small Town Post Office Disappear

AIR DATE: October 28, 2011

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The USPS notified a number of rural post offices they might have to close their doors. But small-town postmasters are fighting back, saying that shutting their doors would be equal to shutting the town itself. What does the post office mean to small towns? Why do entire towns rely on their post offices for more than the mail? We talk to a retired postmaster who's now fighting to keep small town post offices open, and explains why a little-known retirement fund could save everything.

GUEST

Marsha Holden, retired postmaster from Gold Field, NV; advocate for National League of Postmasters (for small postmasters in Nevada)

LINKS

LVRJ: Residents say closing post office would kill small Nevada town

Will the Small Town Post Office Disappear

LATEST COMMENTS

I thought reducing government spending is a ...
-Kirk

It wasn't mentioned about the distances from ...
-Sylvia

It's discouraging the root cause of the post ...
-Paul Rupp

Join the Conversation


	COMMENTS:
	I thought reducing government spending is a Holy Grail of political discussion. Why now that the Postal Service is doing as any smart business would do, is there advocacy of continue government spending? Next I am unable to assemble a coherent line of reasoning that supports rural residents expectation that other Americans should supplement a rural life style, when the rural resident are likely the ones that would be shouting at the top of their voices to cut government spending. Isnt entitlement by definition in this regard expecting others to support a rural life style? We as citizens have a Constitutional right to PURSUE happiness, not a Constitutional right to happiness. As such, the pursuit of happiness necessarily includes financing such happiness, and the one in pursuit of that happiness should pay the price. In re the prescription drug issue, I guess the residence have to balance what is more important, having easy access to their medication or living in rural Nevada. One may have to be sacrificed in some way. Finally, if a Post Office is so important, why havent the rural residents proposed to the Postal Service a willingness to pay more for mail delivery? Kirk –Nov 1, 2011 17:45:58 PM Respond to this comment

	It wasn't mentioned about the distances from another post office. Silverpeak is 114 miles round trip from the nearest post office. The only other business in Silverpeak besides the mines is a bar so they can"t put a village post office there. There are many senior citizens or poor people who don't have access to the internet. They don't have bank accounts plus the closest bank is 114 miles away. Sylvia –Oct 28, 2011 20:30:51 PM Respond to this comment

	It's discouraging the root cause of the post office budget problems were not discussed more in detail. The bill Congress passed in 2006 requires the U.S.P.S. to pay into a prefunding scheme toward future retiree health benefits. The Postal Service must prepay 75 years of health costs on a 10-year schedule. No other federal or private entity is required to do this. In other words paying for employees that have not even been hire or in some cases born yet. How absurd? This is how the U.S.P.S. overpaid $63 Billion Dollars. Until people realize what the problem is and how the problem was caused . . .how can the problem be fixed? Killing 10,000 small post offices will not save the postal service. Congress needs to re-address the problems with U.S.P.S. they created . . . Paul Rupp –Oct 28, 2011 12:49:45 PM Respond to this comment

	Thanks to KNPR on behalf of the 21 rural communities who are fighting to save their Post Offices. Remember..the P.O. has been off the federal budget for almost 40 years. Stamp sales are what support the Postal Service, not taxpayer dollars. Marsha Holden –Oct 28, 2011 10:31:20 AM Respond to this comment

	Ms. Holden gave a very valid argument to keep the small town post offices open. I hope someone sends her discussion up the line and that the small post offices stay open. pmr carlin –Oct 28, 2011 10:23:26 AM Respond to this comment

	I worked for usps for 37 years starting out as a clerk then carrier, supervisor and a station manager that had 80 carrier routes. having to prefund our retirement fund 75 years in advance,the money goes into the general fund and congress spends it as they want too that is the reason the u s postal serviceis in trouble. congress just wants to treat the postal service as a cash cow roy w sparks –Oct 28, 2011 09:56:18 AM Respond to this comment

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