Eastern Oregon tries to sort out a sticky postal problem

By The Associated Press

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive

PENDLETON — Oregon's U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith wants Pendleton's mail to stay put.

Pendleton processes all mail with area codes starting with 978. But under a U.S. Postal Service proposal, that mail would be trucked to Pasco, where updated equipment can sort and stamp mail faster and more efficiently.

"Oregon mail should not have to go to another state only to be sent back to Oregon and delivered late," Smith said in a statement this week.

Pendleton is Smith's hometown and the corporate headquarters of the family's business, Smith Frozen Foods.

At a meeting in Pendleton last week, Postal Service District Manager Dallas Keck said the Postal Service strives for "reliable overnight delivery in the 978 zip code, two-day delivery in the region (Oregon, Washington and part of Idaho) and three-day delivery to the rest of the United States."

But several people at the meeting said mail that used to be delivered overnight in Pendleton and neighboring towns would have to go to Pasco for sorting, then back to Pendleton, stretching one-day delivery to at least two days.

And winter weather could cause even greater delays.

Smith said he asked Postmaster General John Potter to explore all viable options short of moving the processing center from Pendleton.

"There are already so few federal services in eastern Oregon, to remove yet another one sends a bad message, and I don't want to see that happen," Smith said.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company