Salem welcomes hometown girl as new postmaster

Newly appointed Postmaster Amy Riley is happy to assist customers at the Salem Post Office. (Photo by Gail Peckler-Dziki)
Newly appointed Postmaster Amy Riley is happy to assist customers at the Salem Post Office. (Photo by Gail Peckler-Dziki)

By Gail Peckler-Dziki

Correspondent

Amy Riley is the new postmaster at the Salem Post Office, and she likes it. The location is a small office so everyone, including Riley, pitches in to help customers, sort mail and handle the sundry tasks that need doing.

“We’re like a family, with each doing whatever needs to be done,” she said. “And when it’s a smaller office it’s easier to get to know your customers.”

Amy lives in Bristol with her husband Noah and two young children, making her a hometown girl. The Salem Post Office is a five-minute drive from home.

The job’s location keeps her much closer to her children. Her oldest is a student at Bristol, which is also only five minutes away from the job.

At one time, Riley was stationed at the Lincolnshire office in Illinois, which was a small office but the commute was long. “It ranged anywhere from 25 to 50 minutes,” she said.

Moving closer to home lessened her commute, but Riley still spent long hours at the office. “When I was a supervisor at the larger office in Pleasant Prairie,” she explained, “it was easy to stay at work longer since there was so much to do.”

Riley has worked for the United States Post Office for the past 10 years, since she was age 19.

“I started out as a carrier 10 years ago in Grayslake, Ill.,” she said. “I passed the three-hour test and was hired. Working outside was right up my alley and I enjoyed it.”

From that position, Riley moved up to clerk, assisting customers at the counter, then to a supervisor/clerk, then supervisor and when the postmaster job opened up in Salem, she decided to toss in her hat and try for it.

Riley is glad her hat landed at the Salem Post Office.

“This is a smaller office and I am constantly busy. Every day is different and we all work together as a close-knit team to serve our customers.”


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