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Contributed commentary by Patrick Stoute on the US Postal Service.

As a new resident to the area, I have sat back and observed a lot of things about this area, both good and bad. However, today I am reaching out in regards to an issue that I have been dealing with myself along with a vast amount of the residents of Clarksville. The issue I express to you all today stems from the city’s issues with United States Postal Services (USPS).

The USPS located at 2011 Fort Campbell Blvd. has been a nightmare to the residents of the surrounding area including myself. This postal location has and continues to meet the needs of the surrounding area. Receiving mail from any of the carriers at this location would be considered a miracle. Too often, the mail is considered lost, misplaced, or not deliverable due to not having access to the mailbox that sits directly on the street!

The USPS workers at this location have shown no remorse for the way they fail to complete their jobs to satisfaction. Packages are consistently lost and are commonly held at the postal location for days before a carrier decides to deliver it. I have spoken with the associates who work there three times this week at 8 a.m. when they first opened to inquire about a package I was expecting. Each time upon arrival, I was instantly met by a long line of infuriated residents who also shared the same issues.

Today was my breaking point! An elderly woman who had a heart transplant was expressing she hasn’t received her heart medication from USPS but instead had to go from door to door to inquire about it from her neighbors! Unfortunately, yet luckily, a nearby resident had received it from USPS and was able to hand it off to the lady.

The lack of empathy and the carelessness that these works display is unacceptable. One of the most important jobs in the United States, and it’s failing! As a new resident to the area I can only imagine how long this has been going on, but it needs to be stopped. There is no excuse for the lack of productivity from this location. I am an HR specialist in the U.S. Army, and when there is a present issue, it is our job to find solutions to make things better. Please help me make this place a better place for myself, the residents, and any residents to come after.

Patrick A. Stoute