A new postal reality lurks on the horizon,and its arrival appears to be only a matter of time.

    As the U.S. Postal Service continues to bleed revenue and red ink,wheels are turning toward the potential closure of some 3,700 postoffices around the country. Sixty-one of that number are inMississippi, including Union Church and McCall Creek in thisarea.

    Now leaders are signaling a possible reduction in the number ofmail delivery days from six a week to five. Saturday is the daythat has been widely speculated to be lost under that plan, whichwas endorsed by President Obama in Monday’s speech on deficitreduction and economic growth ideas.

    For anyone who has paid a bill online or sent an e-mail to afriend, the postal problems and ideas for solving them should comeas no surprise. After all, the huge increases in communicating viae-mail and paying bills online have been major contributors to thereduced need for paper mail and, therefore, the drop in revenue thePostal Service gets to deliver it.

    For those utilizing USPS services, the likely changes in the futurewill mean major adjustments.

    Sending in that light bill check a few days before it’s due will nolonger be an option. Sometime soon, that check may need to sent intwo weeks ahead to ensure on-time arrival.

    And the trend of higher fees for mail-related services will surelycontinue as well. “Forever” stamps may be forever; but when yoursupply runs out, the cost for more of them will most likely haveincreased.

     “Use it or lose it” is afamiliar phrase when it comes to things that can be lost if theyare not practiced or utilized.

    The U.S. Postal Service seems to be quickly falling into thatcategory. That would be an unfortunate reality, which may have adramatic impact locally, from fewer Postal Service employees, tofewer post offices, to reduced service to customers.

    Without a significant increase in Postal Service customers, thewriting seems to be on the wall, that postage stamps will likely gohigher and home delivery service will decline.