GRAVETTE — The Maysville Post Office, which has served citizens in extreme west and north Benton County for more than 170 years, has received at least a temporary reprieve from its threatened closing by the U.S. Postal Service.

Maysville is one of 186 offices in Arkansas - five in the Benton-Washington county area - which were slated for possible closure this May as part of a nationwide money-saving plan announced almost a year ago.

The Postal Service announced last summer that more than 3,500 offices nationwide were being considered for closure.

“Our customer’s habits have made it clear they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their business,” the announcement declared.

Earlier this month the Postal Service changed direction and announced a compromise plan which, if approved by Congress, will allow so-called “nonprofit” rural offices to remain open on an alteredschedule which will limit the hours the offices will be open.

The tentative plan will change the present eighthour week day and twohour Saturday window service at Maysville to a two-hour-per-day schedule. Access to lock boxes and lobby hours will apparently remain unchanged.

Last Sept. 13 more than 50 Maysville area residents met with a postal service representative who attempted to explain the closing process. A letter campaign was started opposing the plan and since then it has been, “Wait, wait.” Other offices affected

Maysville is not the only post office in the Westside Eagle Observer area whose hours could be slashed by the proposed plan.

Stephen Seewoester with the U.S. Postal Service office in Little Rock said hours at the Decatur office will be cut from eight hours per day to six.

Both Hiwasse and Sulphur Springs offices can expect to see cuts from eight hours per day to six hours, according to the latest information.

The Gravette and Gentry offices are not affected, according to Seewoester.

It was earlier this month when the Postal Service offered the alternate plan which, if approved, will allow for a two-year “evaluation.” Specifics won’t be announced until after Labor Day.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said the change in direction is in response to complaints from rural America. “We’ve heard them loud and clear. They want to keep their post offices open.” Employees affected

Kim Smith, Maysville Postmaster, is presently serving as “Officer in Charge” of the office in Decatur. Smith had no comment concerning the proposed plan except to suggest that “nothing is final,” indicating a final decision has not yet been made.

Martha Tucker is designated as “Officer in Charge” at Maysville, where she has been employed the past five years. She expressed concern for customers and was surprised that the number of hours was cut so drastically. How she will be affected is not certain,but she noted that “a person cannot make a living” on a 12-hour-per-week schedule.

Maysville history

Maysville, one of the oldest communities in northwest Arkansas, began when Adam Beatie settled in the area in 1826, ten years before Arkansas became a state.

The first post office opened in 1840 and was called Beatie Prairie. The name changed to Maysville in 1850, derived from “Mays,” the name of another pioneer family. The community became a thriving trade center bordering what was then Indian Territory. The town was platted but never incorporated.

Today, the Maysville office provides service to hundreds of people, many of whom live in adjacent areas of Oklahoma.

Besides Maysville, in Benton County, offices in Washington County communities in Cane Hill, Evansville, Morrow and Summers are also affected by the proposed plan.

Whether the potential “grace period” will be changed or remain permanent is uncertain.

News, Pages 7 on 05/30/2012