Deadline nears for getting holiday gifts sent on time

Judy Odierna

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

Visit the U.S. Postal Service website, www.usps.com, for information about ZIP codes, postal rates and post office locations. For information about hours of operation, call the post office you want to use.

'Tis the season to hurry up and get in line for the annual holiday mailing rush.

The U.S. Postal Service is gearing up for its busiest time of the year and officials are warning that letters to Santa, Christmas cards and packages need to be postmarked by Saturday to ensure they will reach their destinations by Dec. 24 via regular mail.

Most local post offices will have extended hours of operation through Sunday and the post office at 1001 E. Sunset Road will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Procrastinators shouldn't fret, though. If that final sale was just too good to pass up, that last-minute gift can still get to Mom and Dad while the egg nog is still cold by using Priority Mail up until Dec. 21. After that, the postal service recommends switching to Express Mail.

"We will be delivering Express Mail in Vegas on Christmas," said Vic Fenimore, postal service spokesman in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas resident Pat Bieggerly, 68, won't have to worry about paying for special mail service, however. She finished off the last of her holiday postal runs Monday when she sent a stack of Christmas cards at Las Vegas' main post office. She had followed her own schedule to make sure everything arrived on time.

"(The packages) go off on the first (of the month,)" Biegerrly said. "That's because I don't like the crowds."

Post offices are likely to be crowded for the next couple of weeks.

"Even if we are fully staffed, it doesn't guarantee that (customers) are going to get in and out in a split second," Fenimore said. "Put your patience in gear, come in and be prepared to wait awhile."

He said customers also need to be sure to write addresses neatly on packages, use a return address and have all complete address information before reaching the retail clerk.

Caroline Hussey, 68, said she is keeping that in mind. On Monday, the Anthem resident had six packages left that she planned to send by regular mail.

"I'm almost there," she said. "My biggest problem so far was that I chose an oversized card and needed more postage."