New Hope for a Burning Truck

Last week, Postmarks received a letter from New Hope Postmaster Marianne Carr about the quick thinking of one of her rural carriers, Jenia Keller, who is pictured below:

The incident happened Wed 9/15/2010. I had no knowledge of this happening until Friday 9/17/2010 when Mr. Snead came into my office with a card and a box.  He told me he wanted to proclaim his gratitude to the heroic mail lady who saved his truck from burning.  

Since I was not told of the incident, I wondered if it was one of my carriers.  He told me where the incident happened so I had to wait until Monday to investigate as that carrier was off that day.  Yes, she admitted she was the one. Here is the story.  She  was on Highway 431 when she noticed smoke coming from a truck beside the Highway.  She turned around and saw a man frantically fumbling with his cell phone to call 911.  

The  alert carrier stopped, turned off her engine and whipped out her fire extinguisher as by now, flames had begun to swell.  Mr. Snead told me he grabbed the Extinguisher, but could not get it to engage right away.  The flames were getting larger, so Ms Keller feared the vehicle would blow up, so she advised Mr. Snead to retreat.  Ms Keller got back in her jeep to get the mail out of harm's way but noticed the extinguisher was working as Mr. Snead was busy battling the flames.  

She soon forgot the excitement as she continued to focus on her rural route where she serves  805 customers daily.  Mr. Snead did not forget.  On that Friday he told me many men slowed and looked, but no one stopped to help him, until the quick thinking Postal Lady.  He asked me to give the carrier the gift and card.  

On Monday after the tale was regaled to all, she opened the box which was a new fire extinguisher and read the card which said" Thank you is such a simple phrase, but it says so much in so many ways."  Mr. Snead had written inside, " Thank you for taking the time to help me.  I would have completely lost my truck if you had not stopped.  The oil change and replacement fire extinguisher are tokens of my appreciation."  Mr. Snead owns and operates S&S Service Center.

 

I am very proud of my employees at New Hope where courtesy, respect and going the extra mile is a common daily experience.  They make my job easy.  I wonder every day if I would have the presence of mind to react quickly in dangerous situation, so I commend Mrs. Keller for her fast action.

Jenia has been a rural carrier for 18 years, and during that time has remained accident free. Her focus on safety is evident: she has kept herself and now a customer out of harm's way, and as a side note, has probably helped the Postal Service's reputation and business in her area. 

Thanks, Jenia, for setting the bar high, and to Marianne as well for sharing this story with us. 

Cancelling Out Breast Cancer at the Weaver Post Office

On October 1, the Weaver Post Office became the first Post Office in the state of Alabama this year to conduct a Breast Cancer Awareness stamp event.

The following picture and summary was submitted by Roswitha Sparks, the Postmaster of Weaver.

Pictured  left to right: SSA Barbara Summers, Postmaster Roswitha Sparks, and SSA Laura Bean.  Barbara is holding the cake she baked for our event, we also served finger sandwiches, nuts, homemade cookies, punch and coffee.  We sold $563 in Breast Cancer Awareness stamps, and our customers were thrilled that we had our very own cancellation stamp.

Weaver's pictorial postmark was featured in Postal Bulletin 22296, issued 10-21-2010:

The Weaver Post Office is known for the effort that the staff makes every year to further the cause of breast cancer awareness and prevention during the month of October, and once again, the Weaver community (with a population of less than 3,000) responded.

City Carrier Jack Wood Takes a Bite Out of Crime

On October 5, 2010, Wynn Drive Station City Carrier Jack Wood was awarded the Outstanding Community Watch Citizen of the Year by the Huntsville Community Watch Association.

The action that impressed the community watch organization occurred earlier this year, in April. Jack had been told by his customers that there had been lots of break-ins in the neighborhood where his route is located, and they had asked him to be on the look-out for any suspicious activity. "This wasn't a problem because I am always suspicious," Jack said.

For several days, he noticed the same group of three young men walking through the neighborhood. On this particular afternoon,  he spotted them again, but they couldn't see him. One stayed in front of a house to act as a look-out while the other two jumped over the back fence in order to gain entry.

Jack called the police, who soon arrived in full force with the K-9 unit. The look-out ran away,  but the two who had entered the residence were captured by the police and identified by Jack.

One of the young criminals attempted to deny his involvement, but a women's change purse filled with silver dollars was found when the police patted him down. The victim later identified the purse as one of her stolen belongings.

Jack is hesitant to have it seem as if he did anything extraordinary. "I don't feel unique in having done this," he said. "Mail carriers do it all the time."

The result of Wood paying attention to his surroundings and making the effort to alert the police was that 20 previously unsolved break-ins of cars and homes in the Sherwood Park area of Huntsville were put resolved  by catching these criminals. Two are now in prison; the look-out was never identified.

This is certainly not the first time that Wood has gone out of his way to assist his customers. In addition to this incident, in his 30-year career with the Postal Service, he has also retrieved an inhaler for an asthmatic woman who had collapsed in her driveway gasping for breath, and called emergency services for en elderly gentleman who had fallen and was close to death. 

"It's all about route ownership," Wood said. "That's a common phrase among carriers. It means caring about and taking care of the neighborhood that you serve." 

When asked if he had any advice for those of us who wish to avoid being the victims of crime, Wood, a former military police officer himself, said, " Remember that if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't."

Postmarks gives a special thanks to Lisa Hefner, who contacted us about Jack's accomplishments.  

Beautiful in Wilsonville

Recently, the Board of Beautification in Wilsonville, Alabama gave the Wilsonville Post Office a giant pat on the back for its efforts to be a welcoming, pleasant place to visit.

"This is the first time in this huge town of Wilsonville that we brought home the crown of beautification, LOL," bragged Wilsonville postmaster Brent Milam.

There is nothing like a Busy Bee sign to make a Post Office feel pretty.

All joking aside, Postmarks agrees with the Beautification Board: Great Job, Wilsonville!

Thanks to Brent Milam, Lisa Taylor, and Sandy Scott for sharing this with us.  



Painting the Town Pink

On October 22, 2010, the Hartselle Post Office continued it month-long focus on Breast Cancer Awareness by conducting a lively, well-attended event in the lobby. The employees really went all out, and the town has responded by supporting the cause and purchasing Breast Cancer Awareness Stamps in droves.

Retired Postal employee Leora Gee (l) with Hartselle 204-B Barbara Smith behind the lobby display. Customers were offered pink punch, cookies iced with the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon, and other edible treats. Every Friday during the month of October, customers who purchased Breast Cancer Awareness Stamps were entered into a drawing. The prizes were items that the employees had made, donated, or arranged for others to donate.

SSDA Janna Martin (l) with customer Edgar Gay. Janna was one of the employees who took the initiative in making this event a huge success.

Supervisor Heather Fairbanks (l) with Janna behind the lovely tower of cookies.

Superstar and SSDA Sandra Latta (l) with Hartselle employee Cissy Waddell. Sandra has been a big part of Hartselle's $7,000 worth of Breast Cancer Awareness Stamps that have been sold during October.  When asked what her secret was to such astronomical sales, she replied, "I just ask the customer if they would like to purchase them."

Janna Martin (l) with Postmaster Janie Geckles in front of a display that Hartselle has had up all October. The bear in the background was made by Janie's mom and was then donated to be a prize in the weekly drawing.

Pulling this week's winner.

Janna Martin with a pink boa sign that she designed.

The highlight of the event was everyone's enthusiasm for having them hair sprayed pink to show breast cancer awareness solidarity.

I Can ... Now More Than Ever ... Have My Very Own Beautiful Red T-Shirt!

From the Alabama Combined Federal Campaign Team:

Hello Alabama Team!

The CFC Team would like to give everyone an extra opportunity to help achieve the Postal Service goal of $350,000.00. Purchase an "I CAN" T-Shirt listed below for only $5.00 (Retail price is $10) and every dollar goes towards our goal! The shirts are good quality 100% Preshrunk Cotton and are selling REALLY FAST, so get yours TODAY! They are available in EXTRA LARGE, 2X, AND 3X.


Let us know via email or phone ASAP if you would like to purchase one.

CFC Quote for the week: "One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people." Dick Gregory


I CAN……Be Somebody's Hero! Now More Than Ever!


Thanks for your Support!

CFC t-shirt for sale

If you would like to purchase a shirt, write or call Postmarks (e-mail addresses and phone number can be found by clicking on the Contact Us tab) and we'll relay ordering information.

Congratulations to Daisy Judkins, who was the winner of last week's CFC Leadership Club Drawing. Ms. Judkins won an overnight stay at the Drury Inns & Suites on Hwy 280 along with a complimentary breakfast and dinner.

You can become a member of the 350 CFC Leadership Club by pledging $1,000 next year to the charities of your choice through Combined Federal Campaign giving. The Alabama District now has 83 Leadership Givers: our goal is 350. Every Friday until the campaign ends there will be a drawing for Leadership givers, so the sooner you get in your pledge, the better your odds for winning.

Some of the prizes to be awarded WEEKLY to LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTORS include:

Fitness Members from 1 to 6 months
Personal Training Certificates
Overnight Lodging at the Courtyard Marriott
18 Holes of Golf w/Cart
Restaurant Gift Certificates
Alabama & Auburn Apparel
Gift Cards to Retail Outlets

Drawings will be held at the end of the campaign for all other contributors.

 



Mooresville Post Office gets special recognition � The News-Courier in Athens, Alabama

Mooresville Post Office gets special recognition � The News-Courier in Athens, Alabama

By Karen Middleton 

karen@athensnews-courier.com

— The Mooresville Post Office, long a treasured local landmark, is getting state recognition through a special legislative resolution.

State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and the Town Council of Mooresville are hosting a reception in recognition of the Mooresville Post Office being “an important historic building with longevity and community importance” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24.

Orr is further honoring the structure through a resolution in the state Legislature.

Orr said that residents feared that in times of belt tightening in the postal department, that because of low volume, the facility might be closed.

The structure, built after 1840 of sawmill lumber, is now owned by the Town of Mooresville and is located at the corner of Lauderdale and High streets.

It is the oldest operational post office in the state of Alabama and has served the community from the same building for more than 150 years. The mailboxes and office furnishings are even older, having been transferred from the original post office in the tavern. The post boxes are numbered 1-48 and some families have had the same box number for several generations.

Mooresville is the first town incorporated by the Alabama Territorial Legislature, on Nov. 16, 1818. The entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is one of Alabama's most important and intact villages.

Showing their Hearts in Hartselle

This notice of an upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness Event was sent in by Heather Fairbanks, the Acting Postmaster at the Harstselle, Alabama Post Office:

Hartselle Postal Employees are helping to deliver the cure this month of October.  A special event to honor Breast Cancer victims and their family and friends is being held on October 22, 2010 between 10:00am-1:00pm.  There will be refreshments and drawings for prizes that were donated by employees.  

The whole office is excited to be involved in this Delivering The Cure campaign.  The clerks have decorated the lobby with symbolic pink displays and bulletin boards to help sell the breast cancer awareness stamps.  To date, they have sold over $2500.00 in just the first week.  

The community has be very receptive and supportive, especially after a local paper wrote an article about us to get the word out.  As their Postmaster, I am extremely proud of their excitment to participate in the Delivering The Cure breast cancer awareness month to raise money for research. 

Heather Fairbanks

Hartselle, Al 35640

Thanks, Heather and all of the Hartselle Post Office employees, for getting involved and for reaching out to your community and to people everywhere who have suffered from or had a loved one suffer from breast cancer. We look forward to seeing pictures and results later in the month. 

Montgomery Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp Event

The Montgomery Post Office also conducted its own Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp Event on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. The Postal participants really put a lot of time and effort into decoration and promotion.

Supervisor Neva Rambo was the person responsible for planning the arrangements, and she did a fantastic job. 

Neva Rambo,  Custodian Herbert D. Bell, Jr., and Plant Manager's Secretary Ziann Goree. Once again, Ziann did all of the beautiful balloon decorations for the event. 

Created by the multi-talented Ziann Goree

Balloons by Ziann Goree, wreath by Neva Rambo

SSDA  Laneche Benefield

Postmarks thanks Ziann Goree for sending us all of the pictures and a summary of the event. 

Birmingham Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp Event

From 10:00 am until 12:00 pm on Thursday, October 7 the Birmingham Post Office held a Breast Cancer Awareness event, which was conducted by  Postmaster Sandy Scott. The purpose of the event was to raise money for breast cancer research via sales of the breast cancer stamp and to educate everyone about ways to prevent and detect breast cancer. "Every year, 190,000 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States," said Scott. "40,000 of them died, which included 1,900 men."

One of the survivors present was Terri Davis, a Postal clerk in Birmingham.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November, 2008. Initially, she discovered the lump in her own breast herself during a routine self examination. After undergoing a bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstruction and 3 months of chemotherapy, Terri is back at work and does everything that she can to educate other people about breast cancer. "I just want everyone to do their breast self exams," Terri said.

During the event, Terri convinced a member of the public to schedule her annual mammogram. "I just asked her how old she was and how long it had been since she had a mammogram, and she agreed that it was time," Terri said.

Members of the Birmingham Post Office Team in the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, which was held on Saturday, October 9. Prior to the race, they had already raised $1,500 for breast cancer awareness. They were participating in honor of Myra Brown, a fellow employee and dear friend to many in the group who died earlier in the year from breast cancer. Hopefully, Postmarks will be able to post pictures from the race later in the week.

Sylvia Stack was the team leader who organized the group. "The picture that I'm holding up is Myra at the last celebration that we had together," Sylvia said. "I want there to be a cure for cancer for my two grandchildren, Sloane and Sinclare."

Postal employees Jan Woodruff (l) and Judy Keeton. Jan is the manager of Birmingham MVS and is a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed in 2000. "I was one of the bald-headed ladies working for the Post Office," Jan said. She is doing okay now and has volunteered for six years with Reach for Recovery, a group with the American Cancer Society that visits hospitals and women who have found out that they have breast cancer. "I talk to them and let them know that there IS hope," Jan said.

Birmingham MVS employees. Front row: Steve Foshee, Mike Lawson, Kay Crumley, Marie Hanks. Back row:  Marty Mann, Phil Edwards, Jan Woodruff, David Lawson, Dwight Wren, Ryan (Cheese) Hamilton, Mike Runyans, Johnny Spain.  In support of their manager and the other people in their lives who have suffered from breast cancer, 100% of MVS employees came to the event to purchase a sheet of breast cancer awareness stamps!

Marie Hanks and Kay Crumley

MVS employees used their morning break to stand in a long line to purchase a sheet of breast cancer awareness stamps.

Left to Right: Reginald Capers, Mgr. Marketing; Andrée Kater, Mgr. BMEU; Jackie Watkins, Mailing Requirements Clerk - B’ham; Mary Thomas, Mailing Requirements Clerk - B’ham; Linda Dennis, Bulk Mail Tech - B’ham; and Jeremy Wells, BMEU Supervisor, Tour 3 -B’ham.

Girl Power in Centreville

Centreville, Alabama Post Office Staff. Standing from left: Dana Wallace, Sharon Lightsey, Mary Watkins, Carolyn Donner. Seated in front: Debbie Wolfe

Although the Centreville Post Office is located in run-of-the-mill strip mall, there is nothing ordinary about the Post Office or the wonderful people who work there.

To start with, the all-female staff makes safety more than a slogan: the office has been accident-free for over two years.

And it's not just their own well-being that concerns them. Almost all of the carriers have stories about members of the public that they have rescued. Most recently, City Carrier Mary Watkins stopped when she saw a car that had veered off the road, called an ambulance, and assisted the injured, confused driver until medical care arrived on scene, and carrier Laura Smith assisted an elderly customer who had fallen and broken her arm. These women watch out for themselves, each other, and the members of their community.

Postmaster Debbie Wolfe is quick to brag on her employees. "I have a wonderful group," she said. "We haven't had an unscheduled absence in a very long time. Everybody here cares about the customer."

And the employees in Centreville are just as quick to chime in with good things about her, too. "We love our boss. She's good to us. She lets us do our job, and we do it well," they said.

It's always nice to visit an office where not only does everyone get along and support each other but where everyone is committed to service and to the success of the Postal Service.

Postmarks thanks Debbie Wolfe for inviting us to her office and the employees of Centreville for doing a great job and giving us such a warm welcome.

Bessemer Post Office Delivers It All

Saying Good-bye in Cusseta

Rural Carrier LaTonya Maddox (l); Retiring Cusseta Postmaster Kay Ingle (c); new Cusseta Postmaster Antrice Forster (r)



Last week, two employees of the tiny Cusseta, Alabama Post Office retired together. On September 30, 2010, Postmaster Kay Ingle and Postmaster Relief Brenda Strickland welcomed a steady stream of customers, friends, and fellow Postal employees who arrived to share memories and hugs, cry more than a few tears, and say their good-byes.



Kay Ingle (l) with a customer who came to say good-bye.

"I'm going to miss your face," one customer exclaimed to Ingle.

"And I'm going to miss all of my family over here," Ingle replied.

In the morning, Ingle (who had been the Postmaster of Cusseta for 14 years) presented awards and certificates of appreciation to her employees, and cake and punch were served to visitors throughout the day.

Ingle also shared two special things that she had written: the first was a letter to the citizens of Cusseta thanking them for their kindness, friendship, and support, and the second was a written tribute to Brenda Strickland, her PMR who had worked at the Cusseta Post Office for 29 years. "This day is more about Brenda," Ingle said.

Maddox (l), Ingle(c), and Rural Carrier Edna Williams (r) work together to make Ingle's last day a perfect one.

During her years with the Postal Service, Ingle promoted the Postal Service in every way that she could out of love rather than duty. In the Cusseta station, she kept a scrapbook that documented the 185 years of Postal history in Cusseta (the original Post Office stood near the current parking lot). She visited many schools to encourage stamp collecting. She participated in first-day cover and pictorial postmark events. In other words, Ingle is a devoted Postal employee who truly loved her job.

Ingle (l); customer Shasta Darden (c); Forster (r)



But since Kay Ingle wanted this day to be about Brenda Strickland, and since Postmarks was unfortunately unable to snap Strickland's picture, we would like to honor Kay's request and end with an excerpt from Kay's tribute to Brenda:

"In February of 1991, Brenda began working at the Cusseta Post Office. She began her career in the Postal Service as a dedicated, loyal employee. Today, 29 years and 7 months later, she remains the same dedicated, loyal employee.

During her employment, she has trained many people who were assigned to this office. I think that the total is at least 17, most of whom went on to become postmasters. Even though she did not pursue a career for herself, she certainly motivated and helped others through the steps while they were at Cusseta. Brenda's work ethics are in the highest ranks on the charts.

As we came into the computer age together, we have had to help each other many times. Her attitude is always a good one, and that is why she is so successful on the job. When she told me that she was retiring in August, I asked her to wait on me until September, and she honored that request. We are retiring together with good memories and lots of hard work, and are looking for a future filled with good things."

USPS Contract Driver Tony Harrelson's Murder Remains Unsolved One Year Later

From WTVM:

CAMP HILL, AL (WTVM) – The United States Postal Inspection service is requesting the public's help in solving a one-year-old crime.


The crime took place on the evening of October 2, 2009.

Tony Harrelson, a highway contract driver for the United States Postal Service, was violently gunned down at the Camp Hill, AL post.

In recent months, tips have come in from the public, but there are still no leads pertaining to Harrelson's murder.



The Postal Service is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder.

If you have a tip, call the United State Postal Inspection service at 877-876-2455 or the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Department at 256-825-4264, OR the secret witness number at 256-827-2035.

Alabama District Helps Deliver the Cure

The Difference that a Letter (and Letter Carrier) Can Make

When Sheffield, Alabama customer Robin Suab wanted to express her gratitude to Kenny Stevenson, her letter carrier, she didn't send an email, make a phone call, or post on Twitter or Facebook: she sat down and with a pen and paper wrote a letter to Stevenson's boss, Postmaster Ricky Brewer.

It's not often that we Postal employees get to read other people's mail, so enjoy.

Here's the second page:

Brewer was pleased to receive the letter but was not at all surprised. Brewer is quick to state that Stevenson is an excellent employee and a very nice person. "We all work together in this office to serve our customers," said Brewer. "All of my employees have Postal Pride."

Kenny Stevenson

Brewer added that on the morning of Postmarks' visit to Sheffield, a 90-year-old customer and his 70-year-old son had visited the Sheffield Post Office because the father had recently moved into an assisted-living facility and was worried about receiving his mail at his new address. "When I told him that Kenny was there and had taken care of everything, he immediately felt better," Brewer said.

That wasn't the end of the story. The customer who had written to Brewer did as she had promised in her first letter and also wrote about Kenny to Postmaster General Potter. Soon, a letter of commendation from PG Potter arrived in Sheffield, too.

Brewer presented the letter to Stevenson at the Sheffield office. All of his co-workers were proud of Stevenson and were glad that he was receiving some much-deserved attention. “This is an honor for him and for his family, too," said Brewer. "Everybody in the office gathered around to look at it and congratulate him."

Kenny Stevenson has worked for the Postal Service for nearly 25 years (during which time he has been bitten by dogs 3 times). He enjoys carrying mail in Sheffield, which he says is "just like Mayberry."

Surely, he has helped lots of customers during that time, but he is slow to sing his own praises. His wife Darlene, who is also a Postal employee, said, "Kenny is modest. He really does a lot for his customers: they all love him."

Postmarks thanks Kenny Stevenson, Darlene Stevenson, and Ricky Brewer for sharing this story with us.