The mail, already slow by today's electronic standards, could become even slower under sweeping changes proposed by the U.S. Postal Service.
Scheduled to begin this spring, the changes would virtually eliminate any chance of first-class mail arriving the next day, postal officials said, and also would mean delays for newspapers and magazines.
Under a plan outlined recently in Washington, D.C., the Postal Service said it will close 3,600 post offices and 252 of the nation's 461 mail processing centers.
Lynchburg and Roanoke are among processing centers on the chopping block.
Darryl Myers, the Postal Service's Appalachian District manager, said some Lynchburg operations have already been moved to the Roanoke facility.
If the Postal Service closes both processing centers, mail would be routed through Greensboro, N.C.
Closing the Lynchburg facility will result in 27 layoffs and eliminating Roanoke operations will mean 67 layoffs, Myers said, adding some workers will move to other positions.
Myers, a Chatham native, said the postal system is rethinking its commitment to overnight first-class mail.
Currently, first-class mail is supposed to be delivered to homes and businesses within one to three days.
Under the changes, mail would take two to three days, virtually eliminating next-day delivery in surrounding communities.
Some mail could still be delivered in one day, officials said, if it reaches the post office early enough.
Recently, the Postal Service announced a five-month moratorium on closing facilities.
The waiting period, which ends in May, will give Congress time to act on relief for the struggling agency, postal officials said.
A bill to overhaul the Postal Service is pending in the U.S. Senate.
The agency will continue to study pending closures, it said.
Major concern for newspapers
The postal changes present challenges for newspapers, which could take anywhere from two to nine days to arrive by mail.
"This is a major concern for us as well as subscribers who receive our newspapers in the mail each week," said Diane White, president of Womack Publishing Company, which publishes the Altavista Journal and 14 other community newspapers in Virginia and North Carolina.
"We are taking the proposed changes very seriously," said White. "We're talking with postal officials and exploring every option we can to make sure readers receive their newspaper in a timely manner."
The Journal is published and mailed on Wednesday. Subscribers receive the newspaper in the mail on Thursday. Subscribers who live outside the area typically receive the Journal on Friday or Saturday.
About 22 percent of the Journal's $27 annual subscription price goes to cover the cost of mailing the newspaper. Postage accounts for almost 50 percent of the $39 out-of-area subscription cost.
‘E-edition available'
Readers don't have to wait for the newspaper to appear on newsstands or come in the mail, however.
The Journal offers an electronic "e-edition" through its website that is free for subscribers. The online version - an exact copy of the newspaper - is available by computer every Wednesday by 10 a.m.
Subscribers can sign up for the "e-edition" at www.altavistajournal.com or by calling the newspaper at 434-369-6688.
Out-of-town subscribers who prefer to read the "e-edition" only instead of getting the Journal in the mail receive a discount since there are no postage costs.
‘Don't abandon small town America'
The National Newspaper Association said changes are already affecting delivery of community newspapers that depend on the mail.
"Timely newspaper delivery is part of a community's needs as well," said National Newspaper Association Chief Executive Officer Tonda F. Rush. "It makes no sense to transport newspaper bundles from a small town into an urban sorting center, just to bring them back again unsorted. When that happens, our service falls apart completely."
The newspaper association also opposes ending Saturday mail delivery, and said the Postal Service must put customers first.
"The Postal Service must not abandon small town America," said Rush. "In the years ahead, the Postal Service is going to need the support of citizens, including those in small towns, to adapt to a new economy. We urge Congress not to let the Postal Service abandon those who need it most."
Losing proposition
First-class mail, which accounts for half of the Postal Service's revenue, has dropped sharply over the past three years as more people use email and pay bills online.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said the proposed cuts would save $3 billion and help the agency avoid bankruptcy. The plan would eliminate 28,000 postal jobs.
Donahoe is also asking for congressional changes that would give the Postal Service more authority to end Saturday delivery, raise stamp prices, and cut health care and other labor costs.
The agency already plans to increase the cost of first-class mail by a penny to 45 cents beginning Jan. 22.
The Journal asked area residents for their thoughts on the Postal Service's changes.
Hurt's Colleen Crews said she didn't think the delays and cuts will matter.
"I may have to plan ahead because it will take a little longer, but they have to adjust to the technology of today. It's better to have cuts and retain (the postal system) than lose it altogether."
Gordon Shelton, who also lives in Hurt, said he hadn't heard a lot about the specific changes.
"I don't think the cutting of Saturday delivery will affect me, but I'll have to wait and see. It will affect businesses more and the areas that are going to lose post offices."
Altavista's Dianne Sykes said customers in a lot of small towns get personalized, quick service. She said that will change. She said the cuts will mean longer waiting lines.
"The postmaster here is willing to help people find the right size box and makes sure people get what they need. I think that kind of personalized service will be lost. I understand why the changes have to be made. The use of email and the state of the economy mean the post office has to make cuts to remain in business."
According to Cathy Yarosky, spokesperson for th US Postal Service, Appalachian District, the Altavista Post Office is not of the list to be studied for possible closure.
Yarosky added that "We encourage customers to attend any public meetings for their Post Office if
applicable."
Federal review
An independent agency of the government, the Postal Service does not receive tax money, but is subject to congressional control on major aspects of its operations.
Closing processing centers and changes in first-class mail delivery, however, could go into place without permission from Congress.
The Postal Regulatory Commission, an independent federal agency that oversees the Postal Service, is studying the proposed changes.
"We will offer a fair and balanced analysis of the proposal," said Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway. "The Postal Service will have the benefit of gaining greater information about the impact of their proposal and the opportunity to make adjustments suggested as part of the public review."
The regulatory commission is scheduled to release an advisory opinion in March, but has no binding authority.
The complete Postal Service proposal and its justifications are available on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at
www.prc.gov.
The public is invited to share its views by clicking the "Contact PRC" tab to access an online customer service form.
To participate more formally in the process and to file documents to be included in the online public record, interested parties should click the "Filing Online" tab and follow the instructions.
Goldway said the commission will review the proposal closely to ensure the Postal Service continues its mission of providing adequate, effective service in a fair manner to all parts of the United States.
"I think if the Postal Service does not respond to public concerns, it will bear the consequences of that itself," she said.
Congressional contacts
Fifth District Rep. Robert Hurt of Chatham said the challenge is to balance necessary spending cuts with preserving rural mail service.
"Living and working on Main Street in a small, rural Virginia town, I have always appreciated the services provided by our local post offices and by the dedicated post office employees," Hurt said.
"However, we as a nation must come to terms with the fact that the U.S. Postal Service has suffered from years of fiscal mismanagement and is now expected to lose $10 billion this year alone.
"At the same time, our federal government is borrowing 42 cents on every dollar it spends and is running a $15 trillion debt. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must rein in the federal government's out-of-control spending," Hurt said.
Residents can contact their congressional representatives about changes to the Postal Service.
Hurt may be reached at hurt.house.gov or by calling his Washington office at 202-225-4711 or Danville office at 434-791-4619.
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb may be reached at webb.senate.gov or 202-224-4024. Webb's Danville office number is 434-792-0976.
The Danville mailing address is 308 Craghead St., Suite 102A, Danville, Va. 24541 and his Washington address is 248 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner may be reached at warner.senate.gov or 475 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 or by telephone at 202-224-2023.
Residents also can contact the postmaster general at United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, D.C. 20260-0010.