The next time you drop off a package to be mailed in Lakeville, be sure to introduce yourself to the new postmaster behind the counter.
Ruth Yerkes, of Addison Township, was officially sworn in as the new postmaster of the Lakeville Post Office on Friday, August 5.
Close to 30 members of the community, colleagues and family watched as Yerkes gave the oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.?
Yerkes began her postal career in the Detroit General Mail facility downtown in 1986. Ten years later, she was promoted to the Lake Orion Post Office.
‘I basically was the finance clerk and helped oversee the window operation,? she said.
She loved working in Lake Orion because it was closer to where she and her husband Eric reside.
You might say working in a post office runs in her blood. Her grandfather retired from the United States Postal Service in 1964 and her uncle retired in the 70s.
At one time, there were six people in her large immediate family of 16 that worked for the post office.
Yerkes began working at the Lakeville office on June 11, but wasn’t officially sworn in until Friday.
Prior to taking oath, Eagle Scout Brice Galbraith from Troop 366 led the Pledge of Allegiance. An American flag was folded and given to Yerkes as a memento.
To add a bit of comedy to the event, panic rushed through the crowd when someone forgot a Bible for the oath.
Fortunately, the salon next door had one and a sign of relief ran across Yerkes’s face.
Yerkes’s father, Alfred Goniwiecha, held the Bible and looked proud as his daughter took the oath from her boss Sid Thompson, Post Office operations manager for southeast Michigan.
Thompson said his experience as a postmaster helped him in deciding if Yerkes was right for the job.
‘I was a postmaster for 12 years and I have a very good handle on what’s expected for a postmaster,? he said.
He said a postmaster is a vital part of the community and strives to take care of their needs.
‘The people deserve nothing less than the best,? he said. ‘Ruth has made that commitment to me that she will do the best job she can for her community.?
Thompson gave Yerkes a coffee cup that says ‘Don’t mess with the postmaster? and a crystal eagle statue to display on her desk.
Yerkes will be the head honcho at the Lakeville office and will only have one other person working with her part-time. She said she’s looking forward to making some changes.
‘I think the place needs an overhaul,? she said laughing. ‘I’d like to make it more appealing to the eye.?
Yerkes said adding retail items like greeting cards, shipping supplies and more appealing shipping boxes will bring more revenue into the office.
She also hopes to inform the community about all of the new advantages in the postal world, like online shipping services. ‘I’m hoping I can assist the community and the postal service at the same time,? she said.
Yerkes said although her post office is small, it keeps her on her toes. She loves the Lakeville community and said so far everybody ‘seems so nice.?
She also hopes to inform the community about all of the new advantages in the postal world, like online shipping services.
‘I’m hoping I can assist the community and the postal service at the same time,? she said.
Yerkes said although her post office is small, it keeps her on her toes. She loves the Lakeville community and said so far everybody ‘seems so nice.?