Griffith post office not in danger of closing; residents want to keep it that way

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Updated: November 16, 2011 10:27AM

GRIFFITH — The post office in Griffith currently is not on the list for closure consideration by the U.S. Postal Service and one local woman wants to make sure it stays that way.

Bonnie Dobosz, wife of Town Councilman Stan Dobosz, has collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition that calls for keeping the Griffith post office at 900 N. Broad St. as it is now, a full-service facility.

Dobosz said word has been circulating around town the Griffith branch might either be closed, consolidated with Schererville or changed from a full-service facility to a place to buy stamps.

While none of this information has been confirmed, Dobosz said she does not want to wait around and take any chances. She said officials need to know the town fully supports and wants to maintain a local branch.

“We want a full-service post office. That’s our goal. Our senior citizens, that’s what they want,” she said.

Requiring residents, especially senior citizens, to drive to another community to conduct their postal business would be a hardship for many.

Locally, only post offices in Schneider, Sumava Resorts and Mount Ayr are among the 3,653 branches across the country that made the U.S. Postal Service’s list for review for possible closure in July.

With the help of some friends Dobosz has been making phone calls and stopping in every store possible gathering signatures to support keeping the Griffith Post Office operating as it currently does.

Those signatures have been forwarded to U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, Gov. Mitch Daniels, U.S. Postal Service District Manager E. Lynn Smith, and Vice President of Industry Affairs Susan M. LaChance in Washington, D.C.

“You know the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” she said.

Dobosz said she received a response to a letter she wrote to Visclosky that indicated he does not have any concrete information on the fate of the Griffith branch. Visclosky’s office could not be reached by press time.

While the information circulating is unsubstantiated, Dobosz said it might carry a grain of truth and therein lies the concern for town residents who want to keep the service as is.

“Rumors come from somewhere. People don’t stand around and make things up just to do it,” she said.

The manager of the Griffith branch was not able to reached by press time.