BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Playback58@gmail.com

 

FRANKLIN—Six post offices in Western Tidewater are no longer being considered for changes as the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to save money.

The Postal Service in June reported that post offices in Boykins, Branchville, Carrsville, Drewryville, Isle of Wight, Newsoms, Sedley and Zuni were being considered for reduced hours, rural delivery, providing limited services at a business or closure.

The agency mailed surveys to residents served by Drewryville and Newsoms branches. The majority in both instances favored fewer hours.

As a result, effective Saturday, Jan. 12, Drewryville will operate 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday. Newsoms will be open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

The other Western Tidewater post offices are not being considered because they have a permanent postmaster, said Michele Martel, district communication coordinator for the Postal Service in Richmond. Drewryville and Newsoms did not have postmasters.

“By not reviewing offices with an assigned postmaster, the Postal Service is giving these career employees opportunities to reposition themselves at other offices, which will have a postmaster assigned, or in other jobs such as supervisor,” Martel said.

This is being done to continue a lengthy record of not laying off people.

Isle of Wight had its community meeting on Nov. 2, but no date has seen scheduled to change anything owing to some “unique operational issues that need to be worked out,” she said.