POSTAL SERVICE OFFERING `STAMPS BY FAX' PLAN

The United States Postal Service has introduced a new service called "Stamps by Fax."

"The program is an expansion of our Stamps by Mail program," Mike Keefe, postmaster of the Cape Girardeau Post Office. "It's an overnight program."

The new program allows customers to fax their stamp orders to the post office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"Orders received will be processed and delivered the next business day with the regular mail delivery," said Keefe.

There is no extra charge for the service.

"The cost is only the price of the stamps," said Keefe. "All we ask is that the delivery person be paid by check or money order only.

"This is the most convenient way we have to sell stamps and it complements our other two stamps services -- Stamps by Mail and Stamps by Phone," Keefe added.

Additional information is available by calling 335-5501, or by faxing 335-7164.

Meanwhile, the post office is gearing up for some busy days ahead.

Mailing procedures will be changing as the Christmas holiday nears, noted Keefe.

"By the end of this week any mail going overseas will have to go by priority or air to reach the destinations by Christmas."

Local outgoing Christmas cards and letters should be in the post office no later than Dec. 21, added Keefe. "Cards and letters going to other post offices within the region should be mailed no later than Dec. 21 and cards and letters going to other parts of the United States should be mailed no later than Dec. 20.

Keefe said Christmas parcels to out-of-town addresses should be in the post office no later than Dec. 15 to insure delivery before Christmas. "After that date you can still mail parcels by priority or express mail," said Keefe.

The volume of parcel post mail this year at the post office is expected to be up.

The last delivery day for regular mail is Dec. 23.

"We will have express-mail delivery on Christmas Day," added Keefe. "Our delivery men will be dressed in Santa Claus suits."

The post office also will deliver priority parcels on Dec. 24.

Postal authorities are urging people to mail early. "The quicker the customer gets the mail to us, the quicker we can deliver it," he said.

As usual, the Monday before Christmas Day is expected to be the biggest day of the year for the post office. This year, that is Dec. 18.

"A lot of people spend that last weekend addressing mail and it hits the post office on Monday," said Keefe. "Last year we processed more than 750,000 pieces of mail on that particular Monday. This year, the volume will be greater."