Logandale Postmaster Retires After 26 Years

By CORINNE MESSER

The Progress

For 18 years, Postmaster De Smith has been the backbone of the Logandale Post Office. But on Friday, April 28, Smith turned in her keys and retired.
“I started 26 years ago as a part-time clerk and then went to a full-time Postmaster in 2005,” commented Smith in an interview last week.

Smith said she’s seen a lot of changes and growth through the years. “We used to handle 200-300 packages per week,” she said. “Nowadays we have close to 2,000 packages per week!”

When scanning packages was initiated several years ago, it increased their dealings with each package threefold as it’s required to scan each package three times. That’s a lot of package lifting that Smith said she is happy to walk away from.

Another thing Smith will not miss is the growing pile of packages not being collected. “I don’t understand why people order things and then don’t pick them up!” she exclaimed.
But despite the package problems, Smith said she will truly miss the daily interactions she has with the friendly locals.

“Many children have come to the front counter and have had their hand stamped by me or my co-workers throughout the years,” said Smith. “Now those children are grown up and bringing their children in for a stamp. I’m going to miss that. One little boy always makes us laugh when he comes in and says, ‘Hello ladies!’”

Many elderly customers drop in to the post office frequently, sometimes once or twice daily. In fact, if their usual daily patrons don’t show up like normal, the post office ladies have been known to initiate a wellness check to ensure they are okay.

“I have good memories of school children touring the post office,” said Smith, “In the past, the students would write a letter, learn how to write the address on the envelope, and bring it to the post office where they purchased a stamp and put it on the envelope. Then they got to cancel, sort, and send it on its way.”

Smith mentioned a new Postmaster appointment for the Logandale office is in the works and will be announced by next month.

What will Smith do now? “I’m not setting my alarm clock on Monday, and will definitely be sleeping in!” commented Smith.

She plans on being a full-time grandmother, spending more time with all of her family, deep cleaning her house, and enjoying her second home in Utah more frequently.

Congratulations on your retirement Postmaster De! You will be missed.