Postal Service customers who call Cass home got letters last week explaining possible changes to the 24927 ZIP code.

The letter says that, since the last postmaster retired in 2009, a review of business activities there "revealed that the workload had declined" to 17.8 daily "retail" window transactions, suggesting that continuing an independent office at Cass "may not be warranted."

However, according to media representative Cathy Yarosky, the US Postal Service has no plans to close the Cass Post Office yet.

"As far as I know, we are not [planning to close Cass]," she said.

Yarosky said Cass Post Office customers should return the questionnaire enclosed with the letter and attend a public meeting to be held at the Cass Volunteer Fire Department April 14 at 6 p.m. That information will help the USPS make decisions regarding the little post office that opened in 1901.

At that time, Cass, named for Jacob Cass, a "high ranking" member of a lumber company, according to the History of Pocahontas County 1981, was a booming lumber town with four churches and its own doctor. The first postmaster was Jasper Matthews.

Just as Cass has changed from a boom town to a State Park during the last110 years, so has the Postal Service evolved into a different animal.

Yarosky said business at Post Offices nationwide has declined because of electronic communications, and some of its services have been made available in big box stores nationwide.

"People are still using the Post Office, just in a different way," Yarosky said.

The meeting will give the Postal Service information it needs to continue to study the area and check out its options, she continued.

"No decision will be made until after the meeting next month," she said.

The letter says that carrier service for the area would cost the financially ailing Postal Service "substantially less" and it claims that other services like purchasing stamps and money orders would not suffer.

Stamps by Mail provides customers the opportunity to purchase stamps, envelopes and postal cards by using a form provided by the mail carrier. The program works for stamp collectors, as well, it says. Most orders are processed overnight and some are processed immediately, the letter says.

As for money orders, those may be purchased at the mailbox, too; however, the customer must compete an application and pay the carrier in cash for the price of the money order plus the fee. The money order is completed at the Post Office and the receipt will be returned to the customer on the following day. The carrier will provide a receipt for the cash at the time of that transaction.

Other services like mailing packages and certified and registered mail can also be completed at the mailbox, the letter says.

If the Postal Service decides to close Cass, the letter says a public notice will be posted for 30 days; however, it does not reveal in what manner the public notice will be posted. Customers will have 30 days to appeal the decision to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which will render a decision in 120 days. After the final decision, the Post Office will not be closed in fewer than 60 days.

ﾠ