Thrusday, January 7, 1999
Thousands miss mail because of snow, ice
BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
At nearly 200,000 Tristate homes and businesses, during last weekend's snowstorm, the postman didn't even ring once.
Snowdrifts as high as 6 feet and icy sidewalks created conditions meaner than a junkyard dog for mail carriers who failed to reach mailboxes from Lawrenceburg to Middletown.
And while mail service resumed for most Tristate residents by Wednesday, postal officials worry the latest storm might suspend deliveries again.
“Depending on what it does overnight, we'll either be able to get everyone (today) or be back where we started,” said Bonni Manies, spokeswoman for the Cincinnati postal district.
Ice and snow were so bad in Middle town this week that three carriers fell down on the job, she said. One broke a leg, another wrenched a back and a third ruptured knee tendons.
On Saturday, carriers could deliver mail in Middletown only to homes they could walk to from the post office. That meant just 2,600 homes received mail, Ms. Manies said.
But Wednesday, only 2,000 of 26,000 homes went without mail.
In Springboro, in northern Warren County, 4,560 of 5,700 customers did not get mail Saturday. But by Wednesday, virtually all were served.
In Hamilton, 60,300 of 67,000 customers did not get mail Saturday, Ms. Manies said. By Wednesday, almost everyone received mail.
In Cincinnati and its Hamilton County suburbs, 20 percent of 400,000 customers went without mail on Saturday. By Wednesday, only a few pockets in parts of Corryville and Westwood could not be reached for mail deliveries.
In Lawrenceburg, Ind., where postal employees on their way to work Saturday were ordered off the road by the Indiana State Police, 7,000 of 10,000 customers did not get mail Saturday. Only 30 or 40 customers were not served Wednesday, she said.
Ghulam Ali, a Middletown resident on Cleveland Street, said he did not get his mail Saturday or Monday. But he shoveled a path to his front door, making it accessible for mail carriers and his family alike.
Others are taking matters into their own hands.
Kenneth Howard of Springboro said he went to the post office to get his mail after it did not arrive Saturday or Monday.
On Tuesday, it was back.
“All bills,” Mr. Howard lamented.
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