The United States Postal Service is once again evaluating rural post offices and asking the community for help in making a tough decision – to close or not to close.

In mid December, residents of Dunmore received a letter from the USPS in regards to the lifespan of the post office. Residents were asked to fill out and return a small survey that consisted of four options for the community post office.

The options are: Keep the office open with realigned hours of four hours a day; close the office and have road side mailbox delivery; close the office and find a suitable alternate location like a private contractor or local business; or close the office and relocate postal services to to the nearest post office.

The community will have a chance to voice their opinions about the options at a community meeting January 15, at 7 p.m., at the Dunmore Community Center.

Dunmore Post Office is the third county office in two years to be considered for closure. A community meeting regarding the Cass Post Office was held April 14, 2011. On November 3, 2011, the office closed after 110 years of service. The community is now served by the Green Bank Post Office and a cluster box in Cass.

Just six days after the closure of the Cass office, on November 9, a community meeting was held in Buckeye concerning the future of that post office. Due to action in Washington by West Virginia’s representatives, the Buckeye Post Office is still in operation.

Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com