Letter to the Editor: When "Priority" Doesn't Mean Priority

This is my third and final installment on this topic.

My personal experience with the USPS has not been positive. I have observed a deterioration of service in the last six months.

I would like to share a recent example. It is a bit lengthy, but instructive.

BACKGROUND

In early February 2026, I sent two packages via Priority Mail to my grandson for his birthday. Priority Mail is advertised as a two- to three-day service, and included in the fee is "free" $100 insurance. One package was delivered three days late, and the other has never been delivered. Both obviously missed his birthday.

PROCESS

Since I mailed these items through the Geneseo Post Office, I started there. The employees were generally helpful and sympathetic to my problem, but ultimately impotent and ineffectual.

After waiting a few weeks, upon the advice of the local USPS supervisor, he ran a trace on the missing item. He said it was still at the USPS processing facility in Des Moines. After a month, he said the item had been lost and that I should file a claim.

CLAIM HISTORY

My view is I paid my money and had a contract with the USPS, and since they failed, I was entitled to reimbursement of the insured value. Interestingly, they do not reimburse a sender for the original shipping fees. Also, the claim that the item was "lost" is weak. Since matter can neither be created nor destroyed, my view is the USPS had this item in its custody while it was either stolen or damaged.

So these are the steps I followed and the result:

1. I filed a claim, which was rejected.

2. I appealed the rejection, which was also rejected.

3. Once again, I filed an appeal, which was once again rejected.

The USPS argued I didn't provide proof the item was damaged and therefore could not reimburse me. I never said it was damaged; my point was they "lost" it. This fell on deaf ears. This is circular reasoning at its finest—they admit they lost the item, but since it was lost, I needed to prove it was damaged. My response was, "Just return the damaged item to me and we'll call it even." No reply.

At this point several months had passed, and I was getting tired of chasing a dead end. I had spent several dozen hours working on it to that point. I foolishly decided to file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and began calling various 1-800 phone numbers. After getting kicked around through several automated phone systems and talking to a couple of clerical employees, I was instructed to engage in a texting session with an AI bot. This resulted in the bot informing me its records indicated the item was in the system and pending delivery and that I needed to be patient. After four months, this was total hogwash. This was the final straw, and I gave up.

CONCLUSION

I learned the USPS is a failing institution because it does not provide the service that is paid for. There will probably always be a need for it to exist, but the business model it utilizes is broken, and it has priced itself out of a competitive position. Particularly disgusting is the customer service. Apparently, they feel that by implementing internet-based solutions and AI tricks, all will be well. With 600,000 employees, we all deserve better.

Letter to the Editor: Before Another Piece of Geneseo's History Disappears

Three weeks ago, just before Geneseo’s music festival weekend, I drove down State Street—just past the city park, and I was shocked to see a large Deere excavating machine parked next to the Queen Anne Victorian home at 316 South State Street. After pulling over and observing more carefully, I saw the JULIE locater flags in the front yard, and I knew immediately what that meant. The house is going to be demolished. As of today, the house still stands.

It’s one of my favorite houses in Geneseo, situated adjacent from the city park and along the State Street boulevard in one of the most visible locations in town. It has unique architectural features, with an upstairs arched porch and Queen Anne details across the roofline of the downstairs porch, topped off with fish scale scallops on the upper levels of the home. For me, it’s very disappointing that one of the most iconic and historic Geneseo homes isn’t being restored. Does anyone else in Geneseo feel the same way?

I’m fully aware that the house has been neglected for many years. It was used as a duplex, and I know from the experience of once being a landlord that not all renters are good ones. It also needs a roof, new windows, and probably needs all new mechanicals, but the house doesn’t look hopeless. I don’t pretend to know all of the reasons why it is being demolished; there may be many. It looks structurally sound.

A quick search on Zillow has a description and pictures of the house from a 2019 listing. It has an intricate open stairway, a fireplace, original woodwork, hardwood floors, a pocket door, and stained glass. The description states that “It’s a rare opportunity to own a piece of preserved history.” The same Zillow listing also indicates that the home was sold in 2020.

Just a block south of the home is a sign on the boulevard that says, “Geneseo Historic District.” I don’t know exactly what that means in Geneseo, as several homes along State Street have been demolished in recent years, and this house is apparently going to be next. Geneseo used to proudly market itself as “Victorian Geneseo,” but I have not heard the town promoted in that way for a number of years.

Historic Preservation of our homes and downtown buildings draws residents and tourism to places like Geneseo. Restoring our older homes is an investment in our community and our future. It’s our architecture that often sets one community apart from another, especially in the Midwest. Instead of demolition, let’s respect the craftsmanship of those before us, and find solutions and the resources to help preserve these unique and historic homes.

-Marty Golby, Geneseo

Letter to the Editor: Quality of Life Is Worth Protecting

One of the reasons so many people choose to live in Geneseo is because of its quality of life. We take pride in our neighborhoods. We enjoy our parks, our downtown, and our sense of community. We want Geneseo to remain a place where families want to put down roots.

That doesn't happen by accident. Communities maintain their quality of life by recognizing problems and being willing to address them—even when the solutions aren't easy. The growing feral cat population is one of those issues.

For some residents, it's cats living under decks or in outbuildings. For others, it's flower beds being used as litter boxes, damaged property, late-night fighting, or concerns about wildlife. Those are legitimate concerns that deserve solutions.

One thing that's become clear through recent conversations is that there isn't a simple answer.

The Henry County Humane Society cannot simply take over and fix the issue. They have said that operating a Trap-Neuter-Return program is beyond its current capacity and resources.

If the City chooses to move forward with a community TNR program, it won't happen overnight. Information I’ve found suggests it could require 12 to 20 volunteers, hundreds of volunteer hours each year, and thousands of dollars to make a meaningful impact. The greatest effort would be required during the first couple of years before the population begins to decline.

Residents can disagree about the best way to address the feral cat population. But doing nothing isn't a plan. Left unchecked, the problem will become more difficult and more expensive to address as colonies double in size every year or two.

Geneseo has earned its reputation as a wonderful place to live. Preserving that reputation means facing difficult issues with practical solutions, realistic expectations, and a willingness to invest in the future of the community.

- Laura Bennett

Letter to the Editor: Keep the Spirit of Music Fest Alive

For the past five years, my husband and I have traveled from Florida to attend Geneseo's Father's Day Music Fest, where our grandchildren perform. It has become one of the highlights of our year—not just because of their performances, but because of what this event means to the young people in your community.

The Music Fest is far more than entertainment. It gives children the opportunity to set goals, practice for months, perform before an appreciative audience, and develop confidence, poise, and discipline. For many participants, including homeschooled students, these opportunities are invaluable.

The festival also showcases the very best of Geneseo. Visitors experience a welcoming community that celebrates its youth, values the arts, and preserves the traditions that make small-town America so special.

I sincerely hope the Father's Day Music Fest and childrens' performances remain a cherished part of Geneseo's future. It enriches young lives, strengthens community pride, and creates memories that families like ours treasure every year.

- Susan Harris

Letter to the Editor: Geneseo, Let’s Make This 4th of July Unforgettable!

This year marks America’s 250th birthday — the Semiquincentennial — and we have a chance to show our kids what real community pride and patriotism look like.

Are you old enough to remember 1976? Flags waving on nearly every house, red, white, and blue everywhere you looked, even a car painted like the American flag. Towns glowed with love for our country. Let’s bring that magic back for our littles — so they can grow up knowing what it feels like to celebrate America with joy and unity.

This is our call to action:

If you live in Geneseo, Atkinson, or the surrounding area, if you own a home, rent a house, run a business, have a farm field, or have a front yard — decorate it!

• Hang the Stars and Stripes

• Put out red, white, and blue lights, banners, bows, and flowers

• Get creative — bunting, yard signs, window decals, even a festive mailbox!

• Bonus points if you go all out as our neighbors did in ’76

We want our kids driving through town on the 4th to say, “Wow… look at all the flags!” Let’s fill Geneseo with color, pride, and patriotism so strong they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives.

We may not have official decorating contests or big events from the Chamber this year, but we don’t need permission to show up for our country. This is something every single one of us can do — together.

Start decorating this weekend. Take pictures. Share them with the hashtag #Geneseo250 or #GeneseoProud. Let’s flood our town with red, white, and blue and give our children a memory worth keeping.

Let’s make Geneseo shine brighter than ever this Independence Day.

God Bless America — and God Bless Geneseo!

- Brandy Stockton

Letter to the Editor- Part 2: Fixing the USPS

My previous input on this subject demonstrated the USPS is a mess. This edition will provide a solution.

The USPS recorded a $9B loss in FY 2025 ($20.5 B over the last 3 reporting periods). This was accomplished by 600,000 employees earning $80,000 per year in wages and benefits. In order to reach a break even position, simple division yields an excess of 112,000 employees.

Employee costs represent 50% of the total operating cost. In other words, it’s the biggest hog at the trough. Switching to more fuel efficient delivery vehicles and energy efficient light bulbs would temporarily placate the climate change warriors, but do little good to the bottom line.

So, given that a break even position is desirable what steps can be taken to achieve this? Some ideas:
1. Offer employee buy outs
2. Offer early retirements
3. Consolidate middle management
4. Cancel open employee requisitions
5. Implement a reduction in force
6. Raise postal rates as a last resort

The USPS management has annually played “kick the can” with this problem. In this case it’s the taxpayer’s “can” being kicked. They are satisfied with the status quo because to actually affect a change would be politically toxic. Think of a young child trying to manage a box full of rabid squirrels and you are close.

The result of this style is all too predictable-we will be lead down the primrose path to the precipice, draconian and foolish decisions will be made, and the taxpayer will be left holding the bag. This is what the bureaucrats say they don’t want, but actually do want. I want to play guitar like Jimmy Page, own a Ferrari, and date a super model and I’m currently accepting donations. But, this won’t happen either. Wink.

Let’s solve this problem. Locally, Henry County has 50,000 residents, is an area of 826 square miles and has 14 post offices. Deliveries are made to 20,000 residential address and 1,100 businesses. The shape of Henry County is roughly a square. I suggest the number of post offices need to be reduced to an efficient level. Looking at a map suggests Geneseo, Colona, Kewanee and Cambridge geographically and population wise make sense. This leaves 10 other existing post offices as excess to requirements. The offices themselves could be sold/repurposed, delivery vehicles transferred to other jurisdictions, and result in a net reduction in personnel.

So this action combined with the previously listed steps would be a meaningful reduction. Implemented on a regional or national scale would further help matters.

The USPS at its peril has been slow to adopt technology based solutions. Another factor is to AI model this problem and have the computer brainiacs in D.C. develop algorithms. We don’t need another AMTRAK, or Social Security situation! I detest it when politicians, policy wonks, consultants and lawyers pretend they are behaving with your best interest at heart. It rarely works out. Good leadership involves critical thinking, tough decisions and sacrifices.

My third and final submission on this subject will outline pithy and non-satisfying experiences with the Geneseo Post Office. Stay tuned.

Letter to the Editor: The USPS is a Mess

This is installment 1 of a three-part opinion and will cover the current status of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The connection to the local community is obvious, as the USPS offices in Geneseo/Henry County will be addressed.

Key Metrics

1. In FY 2025 the USPS recorded $80B in revenue and a $9B loss. First quarter of 2026 showed an additional loss of $2B.

2. The current USPS headcount is in
600,000 making an average wage of $66k/annum. Yielding total payroll of $40B. Payroll benefits are roughly 25% of wages, resulting in $50B in total payroll costs.

3. Using 2005 as a basis of comparison USPS volume of business has declined by 46%. During this same period employment has declined by 15%. The first- class postage rate has more than doubled from 37 cents to the current rate of 78 cents.

4. The decline in business is due to several factors. Significant ones are:
• The increased use of on-line banking and bill pay options and personal correspondence (the internet)
• Competition from private industry (FEDEX, UPS, etc.) for parcel delivery
• Decline in quality of USPS customer service
• Increasing USPS rates

5. The one and only USPS mandate is to provide mail delivery 6 days a week to every U.S. address. It would take an act of Congress to change this.

Financially and operationally the USPS is a loser. It costs us $111 dollars to generate $100 in income. Any loss the USPS experiences is papered over by the U.S. government at taxpayer expense, an annual bailout, in other words. Some might argue that the USPS is a “national good” and should be maintained as is. That is a naive conclusion. I argue the USPS has lost its relevance if it can’t prove itself to at least break even.

This is a classic example of the more you tax something, the less you get of it. The corollary to this is the more you subsidize something the poorer you become. Basic common sense and supply-side economics 101. QED.

Now that I have described the current situation, my next installment will be to suggest a local solution.

-Donald Crawford

Letter to the Editor: Grateful Hearts from Our Family to Yours

Our family recently had the pleasure of spending Memorial Day weekend in your wonderful town! To preface, we do not have any ties or relatives in or near the community. Our family is always up for finding a new location to enjoy and explore! With that said, we felt compelled to express just how grateful we are for the kindness and warmth we experienced during our stay.

Each year, our family creates a photo book filled with memories from our travels — the places we visited, the people we met, and the moments that made us laugh, reflect, and grow closer together. Without question, our time in Geneseo will hold a very special place in our 2026 family story.

What stood out most was not just the beauty of your small town, but the people who make it so special. We were inspired by Tina and her music, which brought such joy and character to the community. We were deeply touched by Steve, whose kindness and encouragement led us to participate in the Aisle of Flags ceremony — an experience our family will never forget. The welcoming congregation at St. Malachy Catholic Church made us feel like we belonged, even as visitors passing through.

We also loved exploring the local shops, enjoying homemade treats, and spending time together playing games and simply soaking in the spirit of your town. Everywhere we went, we were met with genuine smiles, conversation, and generosity.

By the time we left, our hearts — and our cups — were truly overflowing. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, your community reminded us how powerful kindness can be. Thank you for welcoming complete strangers with such warmth, grace, and love. It meant more to our family than words can fully express.

May God bless your town and all the people who make it such a special place.

Peace and Love,

The Adams Family

State Center, Iowa

Letter to the Editor: Concerns About Rushed School Solar Decision

I understand why the school district is interested in the proposed solar project, and I appreciate that financial projections and estimated savings have been presented. Still, I can’t help feeling like this decision is moving far too quickly for something involving such a large financial commitment.

The proposal was first introduced just a couple months ago, and now a final decision is expected by June. For a project expected to impact the district financially for years — even decades — that feels rushed.

My concern isn’t really about solar itself. If the numbers work long term, great. But right now, the district is already operating at a deficit, and we’re talking about spending hundreds of thousands of dollars based largely on predicted future savings. Those projections may turn out to be correct, but they are still projections.

I’m also uncomfortable with the fact that only one vendor proposal appears to have been seriously considered. When public money is involved, especially at this scale, I think taxpayers should expect multiple bids, comparisons, and more time for review.

At the end of the day, I simply think decisions this large deserve a slower, more deliberate process — one that gives both board members and the public enough time to fully evaluate the long-term financial impact before moving forward.

Laura Bennett