Postal Service Plans More VPOs

Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now

This audio file is brought to you by

0:00

0:00

Loading audio file, please wait.

Speed
1.00

• 0.25
• 0.50
• 0.75
• 1.00
• 1.25
• 1.50
• 1.75
• 2.00

The United States Postal Service continues to open Village Post Offices throughout the state. Four are expected to open this week. A VPO recently launched in the Warren County community of West Lebanon. Issued April 30, 2014

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The tiny town of West Lebanon in Warren County is not to be confused with the town of Lebanon in Boone County. But the two towns do have a connection. West Lebanon was originally called Lebanon when it was first mapped out in 1830, but changed its name when the town was incorporated in 1869.

The completion of the Wabash Railroad line in 1856 one mile north of town was the spur for increased growth in West Lebanon. Proof of this growth was the opening of a Carnegie library in 1916.

Nowadays, West Lebanon has a population of only about 723, but is well served by a number of businesses in the town.

One of these is Randy’s Town Market, 413 High St, West Lebanon, IN 47991, and on Thursday, May 1, 2014, the 61st Village Post Office (VPO) in the Greater Indiana District will be officially opened in the store.

Randy Garriott, owner of Randy’s Town Market bought the store in 1995 and views the VPO as another convenience for his customers. “We are already selling postage stamps, and now our customers can come in and buy a gallon of milk, a book of stamps, and pick up some flat-rate packages, or drop off their mail with us,” he said.

The new postal center will be opened by Manager of Post Office Operations Jeff Leffler. Several USPS and local officials will be present at the event. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. and an open house will follow from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

In 2011, the Postal Service introduced the VPO model as an alternate retail location for postal products and services, especially in rural communities.

VPOs are operated by local businesses contracting with the Postal Service, and offer a range of popular postal products and services including stamps and flat-rate packaging.

The following VPOs will open next week — Centerton on Tuesday, May 6, Lapaz and Warsaw on Wednesday, May 7, and Shelburn on Friday, May 9, 2014.

# # #

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.Source: United States Postal Service