WHEELER, Ore. – More than seven months after it closed due to flood damage, the Wheeler Post Office reopened with a little help from Oregon’s congressional delegation.
“Sen. (Jeff) Merkley (D-Oregon) called (the U.S. Postal Service) to find out when it would open, and, 10 days later, we had a post office in Wheeler again,” said Wheeler Mayor Stevie Burden, referring to Merkley’s July trip to Tillamook County for a July 20 town hall meeting. She also credits Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon) with helping Merkley to direct attention to the situation and breaking “the impasse. Sincere thanks to both of them for their help.”
To recognize Wheeler postal patrons, who had been forced to fetch their mail from the Nehalem Post Office during the closure, the U.S. Postal Service hosted a “customer appreciation day” with light refreshments on July 29, the day the Wheeler Post Office official reopened once flood damage-related repairs were completed in the building. USPS leases the space, located at 500 Nehalem Boulevard/U.S. Highway 101 from property owner Barbara Matson.
“We appreciate our customers’ patience while the Post Office was closed for repairs,” said Nehalem Postmaster Jerry Croak. “We’re anxious and excited to welcome everyone in Wheeler back to celebrate our reopening.”
The Wheeler Post Office’s regular weekday retail hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The post office box lobby is accessible 24 hours a day.
In a post on the City of Wheeler website, city staff wrote, “Please visit the front counter of the re-opened (post office) facility for any questions you may have. The Mayor, City Council, and City Manager (Geoff Wullschlager) would like to thank all the parties who have worked to bring back mail service to Wheeler: Senator Jeff Merkley and staff, Congressman Kurt Schrader and staff, property owner Barbra Matson, the citizens of Wheeler and the USPS.”
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