What's Wrong at Muscle Shoals Post Office?

USPS officials are mum on the Avalon Ave. Post Office closure, other than citing 'safety concerns'. OK. Let's examine some possible/plausable 'safety concerns':

The building in question is too new for there to be any likely asbestos issues. We can probably rule that out right off the bat.

Electrical? Again, as with asbestos, not likely due to the building's age.

Black mold? Now we're getting warm. Black mold infestation is no respector of age. Most are aware of the litany of health problems associated with black mold. Which brings us to the REAL questions:

Why the secrecy? Could it be that officials are worried about possible medical claims from Post Office patrons? What about possible health concerns of family members of USPS employees working at that location? It is entirely possible, plausable, even, that USPS employees working in an environment infested with black mold could/would bring such mold spores home on their clothing. 

See the possible 'real' issue, now? It goes from being a 'safety concern' to a major CYA concern.

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Several readers have contacted us about the post office closure. The most interesting theory involved bomb making materials being present in the building. While the workers who are going inside are wearing some protective clothing, we've not seen any photos of what could be considered body armor. We're ruling out explosives for that one reason. Until the postal service elaborates, we're all in the dark.

No Longer Smokin'...No Longer Mowin'

The University of North Alabama is getting even more serious in its efforts to quell tobacco use on campus. Kudos to the university for extending its tobacco free zone; now no tobacco products are allowed within 30 feet of doors, open windows, and breezeways.

We're not sure what percentage of faculty and students smokes, but this would be an ideal time to institute a campus wide cessation program. Students taking Community Nursing classes could man an office or kiosk where help would be available each day during the semester.

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Do you know your mail carrier? None of us here does, in the changing world of the United States Postal Service. Now it seems that eBay is seeking to prevent the USPS from eliminating Saturday mail delivery. Shaif Sleiman, an eBay procurement director, has specifically mentioned the service's current low postal rates. He must not be using the same USPS that operates here in the Shoals. We've heard recent complaints that, even with increased revenue from higher rates, the Muscle Shoals Post Office no longer mows its lawns with any regularity.

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Just who are The New Sons of Liberty? Apparently so many entities are claiming that distinction, they could be a doo-wop group. One NSL has announced support for gubernatorial candidate Tim James, while another has pre-purchased one million dollars in television ads for candidate(s) as yet unnamed.

A relatively small group purchasing one million dollars worth of TV adverts in a state election is rather like...oh, we dunno...let's say a county district judge candidate spending thirty thousand dollars.


Shoalanda