WASHINGTON — Faced by strong public opposition and loud criticism from Congressional delegations, the U.S. Postal Service has backed away from a plan to close thousands of post offices across rural America as a cost-cutting measure. Several area post offices were among those scheduled to be closed. Instead, the postal service announced plans to cut hours at smaller post offices include nearly 400 post offices in Kansas, including most area post offices. Under the latest proposal, the postal service would cut daily window and office hours by half from eight to four hours in the following towns: Lane, Princeton, Rantoul, Richmond and Williamsburg. Also targeted to go to four hours — Colony, Fontana, Greeley, Hillsdale, Kincaid, Parker, Westphalia, Quenemo, Scranton and Vassar. Pomona and Waverly would be cut from eight hours to six hours. Welda would be cut from six hours to two hours. Centerville would drop from four to two hours The postal service will hold public hearings on the proposal and said there won’t be any changes to hours until after Labor Day at the earliest.
Friday, May 11, 6 a.m.
