The Norman Transcript

Headlines

Discussion

February 26, 2013

Postmaster sort of backs off curbside requirement

By Mick Hinton The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Norman postmaster Jeffrey Vaughan sent a more conciliatory letter Monday to southwest Norman residents after informing them last week that they must move their mailboxes to curbside.

But the residents who live in the targeted neighborhood say they are still not sure what the postmaster is saying. The new requirement was aimed at residents who have been receiving their mail in a box next to the front door.

Their neighborhood is located in the area north of Imhoff Road extending into the vicinity of Walnut and Pickard streets.

The second letter said, “The Postal Service is committed to working with every customer to make the location switch easy or, due to health reasons, to not make the switch at all.”

Yet another statement at the end of the letter indicated that anybody could be granted an exception. The letter said, “If you feel that moving your box to the curb is not the best decision for your household at this time, we are leaving this decision up to you.”

But resident Earl Whitman said a caveat was at the end of the letter. The last line of the letter states, “If you would like to discuss this option, please feel free to contact me.”

On Monday, Vaughan told The Transcript he could be reached at 321-4256.

Neighbor Ellen Wisdom said Monday that she tried probably seven times on Monday, but the message was repeatedly, “That number is busy.” The Transcript also could not get through to the post office at the number included in the latest letter.

Vaughan said he received about 10 calls from residents. He said most everyone did not sound like they were totally opposed to the mailboxes being moved.  

The first letter delivered last week said residents must have their post boxes moved to curbside by March 15 or residents would have to retrieve their mail from the post office.

Vaughan quickly backtracked on that statement Monday, emphasizing that nobody’s mail will be withheld.

Whitman said that not setting a deadline leaves the issue open-ended so the post office could come back at any time in the future and order curbside services.

The postmaster said the change is being pursued principally to help carriers, although he said it could save the post office money.

The latest letter states, “We are asking you to move the location of your box to help our carriers to perform their jobs more efficiently by driving more and walking less. This will reduce injuries and allow less stress on their bodies.”

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Headlines
  • Moore Tornado Moore open for business

    Until an EF-5 tornado carved a path through the economic core of Moore on Monday, sales tax generated more than $2 million each month. In addition to damages, closed roads and utility outages forced many businesses to shut their doors. ...

    May 25, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sharing stories of survival

    MOORE — As Monday’s EF-5 tornado moved closer to Plaza Towers Elementary School, teacher Justin Ayers knew they were in its path. Ayers said all of the teachers at the site likely knew what was coming from television reports and they had ...

    May 25, 2013

  • 5-year-old girl finds silver lining

    A twist of fate and the discovery of a cochlear implant from a Moore hospital damaged by Monday’s EF-5 tornado are part of the story of a precious 5-year-old girl. In December, Jayde Scholl was adopted by Tulsa audiologist Jacque Scholl. ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Disaster central

    WASHINGTON — Many states get hit frequently with tornadoes and other natural catastrophes, but Oklahoma is Disaster Central. The twister that devastated Moore was the 74th presidential disaster declared in the Sooner state in the past 60 ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Okla. legislature adjourned early

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers adjourned the 2013 Legislature on Friday one week earlier than required, wrapping up a session that saw Gov. Mary Fallin advance her agenda to reduce taxes and overhaul the state workers’ compensation ...

    May 25, 2013

  • I-5 bridge falls into river

    MOUNT VERNON — The trucker was hauling a load of drilling equipment when his load bumped against the steel framework over an Interstate 5 bridge. He looked in his rearview mirror and watched in horror as the span collapsed into the water ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Tornadoes impact family twice

    On May 3, 1999, Sherrie Lambert’s sister Esther Coburn, 35, was killed by the devastating EF-5 tornado in Moore....

    May 25, 2013

  • How to help: Community challenge

    Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is challenging the community to provide long-term aid for storm victims by contributing to efforts that will provide many of these Oklahomans with homes....

    May 25, 2013

  • Obama balances threats to America

    WASHINGTON — Forecasting the changing nature of threats against the U.S. for years to come, President Barack Obama says “America is at a crossroads.” And so, too, is his presidency’s counterterrorism policy, which has long struggled to ...

    May 25, 2013

  • Hotels team up to house influx of tornado victims

    Norman hotels are used to big crowds. Whether it’s the extended family of every graduating senior at OU or tens of thousands of visiting Sooner fans, Norman always finds a way to house them....

    May 25, 2013