Postal Service ‘hit list’ a threat

St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press: In Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri, it’s a place not just to pick up bills and letters but also to see neighbors and catch up on the news. We value these community-building experiences, but quality mail service is what we most want and need.

A “hit list” released by the U.S. Postal Service is rightly making several communities feel threatened. The service identified 23 post offices in the region that are being considered for closing. It’s important to note these offices are being reviewed and are not necessarily slated to close. Altogether, 3,700 postal locations across the country are under review.

Given the postal service’s financial woes, it is likely at least some of these offices will be shuttered. We appreciate that times have changed. Many people in small towns now drive 30 to 40 miles for a daily commute. They send email instead of handwritten letters. They pay bills online. It is understandable some post offices will be closed to reflect these changing patterns.

Still, while we accept this, we hold the strong opinion our region should not incur more than its share of post office closings. Even within the region, the target list is unbalanced. Of the latest list of 23, six of the post offices are in Nodaway County and five are in Andrew County. Another three are in Worth County. These three counties should not have to bear the brunt of the post office’s bottom-line adjustment.

Boosters of our smaller towns are well aware losing the post office could spell the end of their communities. Supporters of our towns should make their points in public meetings being held throughout the region.