Earlier in the year the word began to circulate around Menlo and Cloudland that the rural routes currently run out of the Menlo Post Office might be switched over to the Summerville Post Office.  The word of this possibility caused a ground swell of opposition from residents at Cloudland and Menlo. 

Residents were concerned that the move was a measure that would eventually close the Menlo Post Office, since a similar scenario was in place when the U.S. Postal Service closed the Cloudland and Berryton post offices years ago. While there was no word that the Menlo Post Office was slated for closure, many residents were worried that might be on the table. 

AM 1180 has learned that the postal authorities are no longer considering the move to Summerville for Menlo’s rural mail carriers.  Nationwide, the postal service is planning to close 16,000 post offices to deal with huge losses.  Critics say that the post office is targeting rural areas that rely on local post offices more heavily for services than more urban areas.