Rural Carrier Associate Richard “Rich” Retig Jr. was delivering mail recently in Umatilla, OR, when he saw a customer pull over on the side of a road. The woman got out of her car to spread grass clippings in a nearby field and then collapsed. Retig ran to check on her. He found that she […]
The Postal Service will release Low Denomination Flowers, five stamps featuring floral designs, on Thursday, July 18. The stamps will be: • One-cent Fringed Tulip, featuring one purple fringed tulip; • Two-cent Daffodils, featuring two yellow daffodil blossoms; • Three-cent Peonies, featuring three red peonies; • Five-cent Red Tulips, featuring five red tulip blossoms; • […]
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Stephen Kochersperger has been named USPS historian, a role he assumed on an acting basis in December. He succeeds Jennifer Lynch, who retired last year. Kochersperger began his USPS career more than 40 years ago, first as a clerk in Milesburg, PA, and then as postmaster of Julian, PA, where he served for 25 years. […]
The Postal Service will hold an online veterans roundtable for employees on Sunday, July 21, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Karla Kirby, the USPS health benefits executive manager, will provide an overview of the Postal Service Health Benefits Program and answer questions. The roundtable will be held via Zoom. A postcard detailing the meeting information was […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on how mindfulness can help counteract stress, anxiety and the chaos of modern life. The session, “Mindfulness: Finding Peace in the Present Moment,” will be held Monday, July 22, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from GEHA, a provider of health plans for federal employees, […]
USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. The session will be held Thursday, July 25, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern. PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.12 percent during the week ending July 12, down 0.25 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected July 17. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.65 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.10 percent rating. Among the […]
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Jacquline Veblungsnes, a customer services relief supervisor in Orem, UT, has attended two USPS career conferences — and she’s a big fan. “I love it. I tell everyone to do it,” the former mail processing clerk and custodian said. The Postal Service holds more than 50 career conferences each year, part of the Delivering for […]
The Postal Service will dedicate its Alex Trebek stamp on Monday, July 22, in Culver City, CA. The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Pacific in John Calley Park, part of the Sony Pictures Studio lot at 10371 Culver Blvd. The speakers will include “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings, and Jean Trebek, Alex Trebek’s widow. […]
Stamps always make news in Link, and last week was no exception. We told you about the Postal Service’s plans to release Thank You Healthcare Community, a stamp recognizing health care workers, and invited you to share your memories of “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who’ll be honored with a stamp next week. As the Wimbledon […]
Plymouth, OH, Postmaster Edward Blum recently came upon an older customer trying to extinguish a lawnmower fire by herself. The equipment was engulfed in flames, which were rising higher than a nearby shed. Blum guided the woman a safe distance away and called 911. He then used a garden hose to battle the blaze until […]
USPS will adjust mailing services prices, effective Sunday, July 14. The changes will raise mailing services product prices approximately 7.8 percent. The Postal Service will also adjust prices for Special Services products, including Certified Mail and money order fees. There will be no price increase for PO Box rental fees, and USPS will apply a […]
In a new video, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy discusses the changes underway in the Postal Service’s processing and distribution network. The video also features comments from employees at the new Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC), including a truck driver, mail handler, expediter, surface logistics planner, and supervisors and managers. The Atlanta facility is […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.17 percent during the week ending July 5, down 0.34 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected July 10. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.58 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.41 percent rating. Among the […]
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The Postal Service will begin requiring customs declaration forms for mail sent to overseas military and diplomatic Post Offices on Sunday, July 14. This includes Amy Post Offices, Fleet Post Offices and Diplomatic Post Offices. Mail sent between these locations that weighs 16 ounces or more or that contains goods must have a properly completed, […]
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To help mark the arrival of the Alex Trebek stamp this month, Link wants to hear from Postal Service employees who are fans. Did you watch “Jeopardy!” during Trebek’s 1984-2020 run as host? Did you ever appear on the quiz show as a contestant? Send an email with your memories to link@usps.gov and put “Alex […]
Freedom was a recurring theme last week in Link. We examined the tie between the founding of the nation and the founding of our postal system. In “Heroes,” we featured the story of Rural Carrier Matt Tripp, who was instrumental in helping liberate a Kentucky cat’s head from a tin can. “I suspect the cat […]
Rural Carrier Derek Nelson was delivering mail recently in Winthrop, ME, during stormy weather when he came upon an unresponsive man in a puddle, exposed to wind and rain. Nelson attempted to call for help but did not have a cellphone signal. However, local Postmaster Scott Allarie, who lives in the area, happened to pass […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.32 percent during the week ending June 28, down 0.23 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected July 3. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.76 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.49 percent rating. Among the […]
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National University is offering Postal Service employees a 20 percent tuition reduction on most associate degrees, and bachelor’s, master’s and credential programs. Employees are also eligible for a 15 percent tuition reduction on most doctoral programs. National University, based in San Diego, offers a variety of online degrees and programs. The university’s website has more […]
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Last week, Link covered a White House ceremony where the Postal Service received a Presidential Federal Sustainability Award. The award honors USPS for its efforts to electrify its vehicle fleet, the largest in the federal government. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the organization has “built a great relationship” with the White House Council on Environmental […]
Rural Carrier Matt Tripp was delivering mail in Morganfield, KY, recently when he came upon a cat with her head stuck in a tin can. Tripp was unable to safely remove the can, so he called animal control and stayed with the cat until officers arrived. She was taken to a shelter, where the can […]
My name is Angel Castro and I’m the postmaster in Statesboro, GA. When I’m not on the clock, you’ll find me serving as a volunteer firefighter. I joined the local fire department in 2009 after a friend, who was already a firefighter, asked me to get involved. You must have the heart for this kind […]
The Postal Service is reminding fleet managers and drivers to always buy regular unleaded and the lowest-grade diesel fuel to save the organization money. Fuel purchases should also take place at stations in the USPS Preferred Fueling Network, which has more than 26,000 retail fuel sites and 40 brands. Among the brands are 7-Eleven, Casey’s […]
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Jacqueline “Jakki” Krage Strako, the Postal Service’s chief commerce and business solutions officer, will retire on Friday, July 12. Strako has made “tremendous contributions to the organization and her longstanding legacy of delivering for our employees and the American public,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy wrote in a memo announcing Strako’s retirement. DeJoy pointed to the […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.41 percent during the week ending June 21, up 0.04 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected June 26. Atlantic led the four areas with a rating of 97.75 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.64 percent rating. Among the […]
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A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.19 percent during the week ending June 14, down 0.15 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected June 20. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.64 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.20 percent rating. Among the […]
The Postal Service will release its Shaker Design stamps on Thursday, June 20, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the first Shakers in America. Founded in England in the 18th century, the Shakers were a celibate, pacifist and socially progressive offshoot of mainstream Quakerism. In 1774, a small group of Shakers immigrated […]
USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. The session will be held Thursday, June 27, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern. PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within […]
The Postal Services is discontinuing several USPS-branded boxes and one variety pack of boxes. The Priority Mail medium box option 2 and Priority Mail DVD box will no longer be offered. The Priority Mail Express medium box option 1 is also being discontinued. The Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes variety pack, which contains one of […]
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