Postmaster general visits potential closure sites

Postmaster general visits potential closure sites

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe is traveling to rural Montana to talk about the potential closure of more than 3,600 small post offices around the country.

Donahoe told Helena residents that the cost-cutting moves follow a 60 percent drop in the number of people using the mail to pay bills. About 230 sorting centers also will be closed.

In Montana, about 80 small offices are slated for closure, from Alzada to Zurich. Donahoe will talk to worried residents of Ingomar today.

The tiny town surrounded by farmland and range grass had been in decline before the railroad that runs through here was abandoned, but residents say losing their post office would be a death knell.

The post office says a final decision is on hold until May.