Not any old post office

Ranchers in southeastern Las Animas County take pride in the hard work they do. But whether it's feeding cattle, fixing fences or hauling hay, they always take some time to visit their 122-year-old post office. "It's the hub of our community. We are busy in this industry and there are times we have to squeeze in a little time during work to get our mail or send mail," said Marsha Strasia, a Trinchera rancher. "We may stop by the post office on the way to another pasture to feed because time is money. Ranching is 24-7." Last summer the postal service announced it was looking at combining or closing 3,653 facilities. The postal service has proposed closing a number of small-town post offices across the state including the one in Trinchera. About 63 percent of the people in the area receive their mail three days a week from a rural mail carrier; 37 percent of the community has to drive on dirt roads to the Trinchera Post Office for their mail. Strasia said that if the post office closes, residents may have to travel several miles to Trinidad to get their mail. The Trinchera post office serves 109 people with 55 mailbox holders. The postal service's mail volume has decreased dramatically in the past five years. Officials said total first-class mail has dropped 25 percent and single-piece, first-class mail — letters bearing postage stamps — has declined 36 percent...more