TIPPECANOE – It seems all too often that we hear about Post Office budget cuts and closings.
But on Friday in a small Marshall County town, it was just the opposite.
In fact, there are now more options in one small community.
237 years ago, a guy by the name of Benjamin Franklin opened the country's first Post Office. Today, it's still a major necessity for our communities.
Surrounded by fields and crops, the small southern Marshall County town of Tippecanoe has had its own Post Office since the early 1900's.
Friday marked a first for the town -- a ribbon cutting ceremony that celebrated more mail options -- a village Post Office.
"On the weekends or the evenings if they work late, they can come here and get stamps or drop off packages,” said Judy Bays of the U.S. Postal Service.
A village post office acts similar to a branch office, except its hours are extended.
Tippecanoe's main Post Office branch will be limiting its business hours to only 2 hours a day.
"They have extended hours to serve the community,” said Bays. They will be able to buy forever stamps and drop off packages. There is a collection box outside, so they'll be able to drop off letters, too. We just hope to serve the community longer hours and be there for them long-term."
She says it's going to be great for residents who work.
"We open at 6 o'clock in the morning,” said Ina Multani, who runs the Sunny Grocery Mart where the village Post office is located. “They can drop their mail off on their way to work at 6 as they are passing through. They don't have to wait until 9 to call off their work and tell them they can't be there until 9 to go to the Post Office."
Residents we talked to said the only thing they are worried about is limited access to post office boxes in the main building.
For now, they will have to work around the limited hours.
But for those who need basic postal services, such as envelopes and stamps, the village Post Office will be a blessing.
