| By Angela Layne |
| Rural Carrier Jolena Kees was surprised to learn her route is one of the top ten longest routes in the nation and the longest route in the Kentucky-West Virginia District. Kees drives a whopping 135 miles per day to serve 479 delivery points in and around the Webbville, KY community. A 23-year postal employee, Kees has been the rural carrier on this route for the last year. “I plan on retiring on the route. I love going the extra mile for my customers and taking pride in knowing I’m taking care of this community,” she said. Kees is quick to add she has the best route with wonderful customers. On any given day she will see turkeys, peacocks, goats, cows, horses, pigs, sheep, owls, and deer. She recalls one occasion when a deer was crossing Bishop Road, so she honked her horn. The deer stopped in the middle of the road, then walked up to her vehicle and head-butted her Jeep and walked on. “That’s one of the craziest things that has happened to me on the route.” Another time, she found an injured owl in the road. She told one of her customers, who rescued the owl and took it to the vet. The owl fully recovered. She loves driving with the window down because it is so peaceful to hear the water flow from the creeks, and the birds singing. Just the everyday life of a rural carrier driving through wooded “wildlife” area to deliver mail. “I love the natural beauty of my route,” Kees says. |
Delivering the Country Roads
250 years of mail delivery, no matter the distance
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