By MARCIA STEFFENS
Cassopolis Vigilant

CASSOPOLIS – The installation ceremony has yet to be set on the calender, but it is official that Sharon Vliek is the Postmaster in Cassopolis.

A former rural carrier, she has been in management for the past four years, in charge at the Cassopolis office for the past year and a half.

That made for an easy transition.

I sometimes miss the outdoors, she said, but added she likes organizing and “servicing people.”

She has been getting to know people in the village and works to “try and keep a positive atmosphere in the office.

“There are hardworking people here who care for their customers,” she added. “They go the extra mile.”

She and she husband Jeff live in Decatur and have six children ranging in age form 18 to 28, along with one grandson and another grandchild on the way next month.

She has served on the Decatur Athletic Board and she loves gardening.

“I have been canning like crazy,” she said.

Her husband travels in the other direction for his job at Battle Creek glass.

There are 14 employees at the Cassopolis office.

Routes are being adjusted, with a declining volume of mail, she said, so people may see a different carrier.

As far as the future of the United States Postal Services, “I would hate to see no Saturday delivery,” Vliek said. “But fiscally, we have to do something.”

Right now it is a “wait and see” what will happen as they are “looking at other avenues.”
The postal service is expanding parcel delivery with priority mail boxes, each at one price no matter what the weight or distance it must travel.

Additional promotions are kits to send boxes to the military and Breast Cancer Awareness stamps for October.

She especially appreciates that the street improvements are completed. “We weathered through.

“I would really like to thank the people for bearing with us through the project and the mud.”

“This is a great community with friendly people,” she said.