Baltimore Rural Carrier Michael Shockley
“Vehicles have three major blind spots: on the left, right and rear sides. Our goal is to make employees more aware of the importance of proper mirror adjustment and motor vehicle safety.” […]
Katie Howard
Posts by Katie Howard
Russell Markle, Boise, ID
When Letter Carrier Russell Markle was delivering mail recently in Boise, ID, and spotted smoke coming from a house, he wanted to be sure of two things: that firefighters were on the way, and that the recently widowed customer who lived there alone was safe. After he called 911, Markle went to the woman’s door […]
Connecting America
The following message is from PMG Megan J. Brennan: This coming week, May 7-13, is Public Service Recognition Week. Across the United States, cities, counties, states, federal agencies and service organizations are joining together to honor public servants and connect Americans with their government. Public Service Recognition Week has been celebrated the first full week […]
Sustainable success
The Postal Service reduced facility energy usage per square foot by 4.1 percent from 2015-2016, the recently published Annual Sustainability Report shows. USPS also reduced scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions — which include emissions from Postal Service-owned vehicles, facilities and indirect sources such as electricity and steam — by 19.3 percent from 2008 […]
Need to know
Dream home. Coy Hill, a flat-sorting machine clerk in Jackson, MS, recently won a home through a fundraising promotion for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. The 3,100-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bathroom home is located in a gated community with a clubhouse, tennis courts and other amenities. The home’s estimated value is $487,000. “I never […]
Minette Hess, Mount Vernon, OH
The cries of “Help me! Help me!” were faint but distinct as Rural Carrier Minette Hess recently delivered mail to a home in Mount Vernon, OH. She looked around and saw customer Brian Boggs pinned beneath an SUV in his driveway. He had been working on the vehicle when it slipped out of gear and […]
Nita Fournier, Nashville, TN
I loved the “Attention!” story. I have nothing but praise and gratitude for USPS military veterans. […]
Great Lakes Area VP Jacqueline Krage Strako
“It takes all of us working together to be part of the solution for our customers.” […]
Golden discovery
Dean Ball believed his wedding ring was gone for good. Ten years ago, the Abilene, TX, resident lost the $1,400 gold ring — a gift from his wife. “I thought I lost it on a job somewhere,” Ball said. Recently, Ball watched his letter carrier, Hector Piazza, walk across Ball’s front lawn to deliver his […]
Small Business Week
More than 800 Post Offices across the nation will hold events to mark National Small Business Week, which is April 30-May 6. The events will include workshops and other activities where entrepreneurs will learn how USPS can help them grow their businesses. “No business is too small to benefit from USPS products and services,” said […]
What’s in store
Luxury apartment dwellers aren’t that excited about workout rooms, internet cafes and swimming pools anymore. Instead, renters want facilities where they can store and retrieve packages, according to a new study by the University of Houston. These services could prove attractive as more consumers skip malls and department stores to shop online and package deliveries […]
Josue Ramirez, Waipahu, HI
Letter Carrier Josue Ramirez had just driven past a customer while delivering mail recently in Waipahu, HI, when he sensed trouble. The woman was walking her bichon frise, and he noticed two stray pit bulls heading their way. Glancing in his rearview mirror, he saw the pit bulls about to attack. The postal employee stopped, […]
Alabama District Retail Manager Carol Brekle
“Many businesses take advantage of the positive impact direct mail provides. It gets directly into the home and creates a one-to-one connection with the intended customer.” […]
Read More… from Alabama District Retail Manager Carol Brekle
Vanessa Sampson, Aurora, CO
I don’t think Hollywood has the information featured in the “Box populi” story. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything other than blue collection boxes in period movies. […]
Delicioso
USPS has released Delicioso, a booklet of 20 stamps that celebrate the influence of Central American, South American, Mexican and Caribbean foods and flavors on American cuisine. The stamps feature six dishes from an array of Latin American culinary traditions that have found new life and variations in the United States. The dishes are tamales, […]
Blue spruce
Greater Indiana District is sprucing up one of the Postal Service’s most recognizable symbols — its blue collection boxes. Employees recently inspected boxes throughout the district and identified about 500 that need to be restored or replaced. “The seasons are hard on them, leaving faded paint and rust over time,” said Indianapolis Maintenance Operations Manager […]
Stamp Out Hunger
The Postal Service wants managers and employees to begin preparations for this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. In a recent memo, Chief Operating Officer David Williams asked area vice presidents to ensure they have the necessary operational, staffing and transportation plans in place for the annual campaign, which will be held Saturday, May 13. […]
Lansing, MI, Retail Associate Dena Rice
“When a customer walks out the door, they have entrusted me with a valuable item they want delivered to a family member or friend. It’s important to make sure I do my part to make it happen.” […]
Diana Pavero, Orlando, FL
“Little mailman” was a great story. I love the letter that Bloomsburg, PA, City Carrier Assistant Wes Winter wrote to the child reminding him “not to lose his spark.” We should all remember that every day. […]
David Martin, Moorhead, MN
A postal customer in Moorhead, MN, recently became trapped in his garage while working on his car. Letter Carrier David Martin was the first person to respond to the man’s cries for help. He discovered that the customer had gotten entangled in an electrical cord, fallen and knocked over a large board that had pinned […]
Pacific pride
Pacific Area VP Dean Granholm will retire May 3 after more than 35 years of federal service. Granholm was appointed Pacific Area’s vice president in 2012. Under his leadership, the area optimized delivery performance, improved customer service and introduced online tools to manage delivery units and retail facilities. “Dean has been a transformative leader,” PMG […]
Answers, please
The Postal Service offers several resources to help employees answer consumers’ questions about Informed Delivery. Informed Delivery is an optional, free feature that provides residential consumers with digital previews of their incoming mail. What should you do if you receive questions about Informed Delivery? • If you encounter a consumer who is not signed up […]
Bite sites
A total of 6,755 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs in 2016, according to statistics USPS recently released to kick off National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Here are the top 10 city rankings, including the number of attacks recorded there during the year. 1. Los Angeles (80) 2. Houston (62) 3. Cleveland (60) 4. […]
Roger Vaad, Omaha, NE
An accident with a circular saw recently left an Omaha, NE, postal customer in dire need of help after he cut off two fingers. “He was alone, couldn’t talk straight, was very disoriented — I think he was going into shock,” said Rural Carrier Roger Vaad, who was delivering mail when the man came running […]
Weston, FL, Retail Associate Bob Marx
“We are here to assist our customers. With mPOS, I can do just that.” […]
Charles Bahleda, Lehigh Valley, PA
Wilmington, OH, Letter Carrier Martin Mitchener did an outstanding job helping the lost 2-year-old. I almost cheered out loud reading the story. […]
Fresh start
Two Post Office murals are side by side again and looking better than ever after almost 40 years apart. The Depression-era murals, “Great Indian Council of 1833” and “Advent of the Pioneer, 1851,” greeted customers inside a Chicago Post Office before it closed in the 1970s. The murals were then placed in storage until “Great […]
‘The Wailing Mailman’
The recent death of a retired letter carrier and renowned jazz musician in the Washington, DC, area is sparking loving tributes from his admirers. Roger “Buck” Hill died last month at age 90. He was a musician for six decades and also had a 40-year postal career that inspired a memorable moniker: “The Wailing Mailman.” […]
First-class fellowship
Baltimore District Manager Angela Curtis will represent the Postal Service in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan Fellows Program. The 12-month program provides executives across the world with training and professional development. Curtis will join the program in June and receive a master’s degree in management studies upon completion. Curtis, who began her USPS career […]
Cynthia Perkins, Salamanca, NY
City Carrier Assistant Cynthia Perkins was delivering mail recently in Salamanca, NY, when she spotted a 2-year-old boy running toward a busy road. When she stopped the barefoot, topless child and asked him where he lived, he would only repeat what she said. Perkins went to several nearby houses in search of a parent or […]