Heads up in Headland

When you ask Headland City Carrier Jacky Bostick if he has ever had anything memorable happen to him on his route, the first story that comes to mind is an odd and frightening one.

Several years ago, he was deliving to rural cluster boxes when a child who was about 10 years old approached. "He asked for his mail, which I couldn't give to him. We're not allowed to do that," Jacky said.

Jacky watched the boy walk behind his vehicle, and suddenly, the boy disappeared. Jacky kept looking and still couldn't see the child.

 "I wondered where did he go?, so I got out and walked around. There he was, laying on the ground behind the back wheel of my truck," Jacky said.

The child was not injured: he had placed himself there in that prone position. There was never any real explanation for the boy's bizarre behavior.

The only thing that was clear to Jacky on that day was that if he hadn't been paying attention and gone to the trouble to getting out and looking for the boy, the ending to this story would not have been a happy one.

That story exemplifies why Jacky Bostick has received multiple safety commendations (last year, he achieved the Million Mile award during his 30th year of Postal service), including his most recent accolade, which he is holding in the picture above, the National Safety Council's Award of Honor. He believes in patience, care and focus.

"Being safe is just really about taking your time, especially in high-risk areas, and trying to watch other folks," Jacky said. "But there's a little bit of luck involved, too.

He encourages drivers to always remain attententive to their surroundings. "The biggest problem I have is other people on the road," he said. "When you pull over to service a box, you really have to keep looking behind you because people can and do come out of nowhere."

"People don't give you the room that they should, even when there is no oncoming traffic. They have a lack of respect for your space," he said. "I've had to jump out of the truck before because I thought that somebody was going to hit me."

Jacky's Postmaster, Sandra Batchelor, wants us to know that not only is he an excellent driver but is also a gem of an employee and person. About him, she wrote:

Mr Bostick is always upbeat despite the physical hardships that he overcomes daily. He is always smiling and always dependable.  There is nothing he wouldn't do for his family or friends. He is a good Christian man and a man of his word. I would love to have 100 more employees just like him. It is an honor to serve as his Postmaster.

Jacky, congratulations on your much-deserved award; we are grateful for your dedication to the Postal Service and commitment to your community.

Postmarks also thanks Headland Postmaster Sandra Batchelor for telling us about Jacky and for sending his picture our way.

Birmingham Save America's Postal Service Rally

A crowd gathered yesterday in front of the Birmingham Main Post Office for one of 492 Save the Post Office rallies that were conducted by postal employees nationwide.

The four employee unions joined forces to encourage support for H.R. 1351, which would prevent lay-offs and service cuts by allowing the Postal Service to utilize billions of dollars in pension overpayments. This would cost taxpayers nothing.

On this day, all employees marched united.

During the hour, participants tried to inform the public and motivate them to contact their representatives before it's too late.

Birmingham APWU President Edgar Wallace was one of several speakers in front of the APWU union hall, which is located across the street from the post office.

City Carrier Kimberly Humphrey (center)

Clerk Harry Turner

Retired clerk and current APWU Legislative Director Sara Witherspoon

APWU officials Billy Woods, Ron Nesmith, Mike Morris, and Jerry McIlvain

Nesmith said, "We're here today to get the public to talk to their Congress people. The post office serves everybody. Not private industry: private industry leaves people out in the cold."

Amanda Wright doesn't work for the post office, but her friend does. Her friend had to work, so Amanda attended in her place. "I'm here to support my best friend. If all of these cuts go through, that's her livelihood," Amanda said.

Clerk and Birmingham APWU Editor Audrey Betts

More pictures will be posted in a Facebook album in the next couple of days. 

Last chance: Negro Leagues stamps and collectibles

The commemorative envelope featuring our very own Cleophus Brown (pictured above) will only be on sale at the Birmingham Main Post Office.

The Robertsdale Road Crew

For the past month or so, we've been featuring the Alabama District employees who have received commendation for safe driving from the National Safety Council. 

Today, the spotlight is on the Robertsdale Post Office, where safe drivers seem to have flocked together.

Years of accident-free driving are listed next to the employees' names. Everybody with 10 or more years of safe driving received the NSC's Award of Honor.

First row: Postmaster Charles Tucker, Kathryn Anderson (18 years), Brigitte Pierce (14 years), Kyle Murphy (16 years)

 Second row: Frank Badners (16 years), Richard Liles (32 years), Mike Huffmaster (17 years), and Anthony Cooper (14 years)

About his staff, Robertsdale Postmaster Charles Tucker said, "This group of great employees has saved the Postal Service a lot of money through the years by being accident free. Add up all these years,  and it's a total of 161 years for them all. This is a very dedicated group that I'm really proud of."

 

This picture is of the Robertsdale accident-free Rural Carrier Associates: Christina Thompson (9 years), Debbie Gholson (12 years), Jeannie Williams (6 years) and Kim Burke (7 years).

"Without good substitute carriers,  we can't survive," Tucker said.

The top achiever is Rural Carrier Richard Liles. "He has 32+ years without a motor vehicle accident (over 800,00 miles), no industrial accidents,and a sick leave balance of 1928 hrs. He's the type of employee that makes the Postal Service proud. I know I am," Tucker said about Liles.

What an impressive group of safety-conscious employees. We hope to see you all again next year when your award-winning numbers grow even larger.

Postmarks thanks Charles Tucker for sending the pictures and for telling us all about his great crew.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Click twice on the picture for easier reading.

Click here to visit the Smithsonian National Postal Museum's webpage Hispanic Americans in the Postal Service and Philately.

Zumba Class Friday, September 30: Birmingham

Watching out for the other guy

Demopolis City Carrier Tony Reaves is another of our Alabama District employees to be presented with the National Safety Council's Award of Honor for achieving 10 years (or 100,000 miles) of on-the-job driving without being responsible for an at-fault accident.

"I wish that we had more employees like Tony," said Demopolis Postmaster Carleton Pickel.

Demopolis Postmaster Carleton Pickel with Demopolis City Carrier Tony Reaves

With 25 years of Postal service behind him, Tony's advice about staying safe is simple: "Do what the boss says to do, and watch out for the other guy," he said.

One of Tony's favorite stories about experiences on his route happened years ago. He was on foot delivering mail and saw a young boy fall off of his bicycle. The child yelled to Tony, "Hey, aren't you going to help me get up?"

Of course, Tony did just that, and a friendship began. "That child is now grown and recently told that story at his graduation," Tony said.

"I love my job, and I love the people on my route. I always have," Tony said.