By Judy Reed

From the time the first U.S. Post Office was established in Cedar Springs on February 4, 1857, mail carriers have always worked out of the local office. As of January 16, 2010, that will no longer be the case. Instead, they will work out of the larger Rockford location.

“The U.S. Postal Service has been looking at their finances and what would be a more efficient use of space in post offices all across the nation,” said Sabrina Todd, communications specialist for the Greater Michigan District of the United States Postal Service. “Rockford is larger. If you are not utilizing all the space you are wasting space.”

Todd did not have any numbers on whether it would save them anything financially.

The Post has received several calls and letters about other possible changes occurring, but according to both Todd and Matt Dykema, acting postmaster at Cedar Springs, no other services will be affected by the move. Window operations and hours and the location of the Post Office boxes will all stay the same. Mail is still expected to be in the PO Boxes by 10 a.m. each day.

For questions about the move, call the Post Office at 696-1230.