No one was more surprised than Jolena Kees to learn she has one of the nation’s longest delivery routes.
Kees, a Grayson, KY, rural carrier, drives 135 miles each workday to serve 479 delivery points.
The Postal Service recently named Kees’ route one of the nation’s longest, a list released last month to help mark the organization’s 250th anniversary.
“I love going the extra mile for my customers and taking pride in knowing I’m taking care of this community,” said Kees, a 23-year USPS veteran.
Besides offering her a sense of professional fulfillment, the route also offers its share of natural wonders: On any given day, Kees sees cows, deer, goats, horses, owls, peacocks, pigs, sheep and turkeys.
“I love the natural beauty,” she said.
Ready to get started
Beatriz Ibarra is the new postmaster in Pauma Valley, CA, a community of about 6,600 residents in San Diego County.
She oversees six employees, 4,800 PO Boxes, and two delivery routes serving Pauma Valley and two neighboring communities, Pala and Palomar Mountain.
Ibarra joined USPS as a letter carrier in 2001 and became a customer services supervisor in 2020, later serving as officer in charge at the Ramona, CA, Post Office.
She said she’s eager to begin her first postmaster position in Pauma Valley.
“This is a new community to me, and I look forward to building strong connections, supporting the dedicated team of employees and providing excellent customer service,” Ibarra said.
Dishing it out
The Salt Lake City Processing and Distribution Center held two barbecues for its employees recently — and it seems no one left with an empty belly.
Managers served as grill masters during the events, dishing out more than 930 hamburgers, 820 hotdogs, 1,040 bags of chips and 630 cups of lemonade.
“Our employees had a great time and thought it was fun to see the managers barbecuing,” said Danielle Price, an administrative assistant at the facility who helped promote the event.
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