Judging by the traffic going into the Simmons Station Post Office, people still use the post office, not just the internet, to conduct business. But beginning November first, it will be closing at 5 P.M. weekdays instead of 6:00, and opening at 10:00 Saturday mornings instead of 8:00.

"I got off work at four, and it was a rush to get down to one of the Parkersburg offices if I had to do business," Scott Brown recalls. "And it was only open until noon on Saturday."

"Because they don't have a chance to go after working hours," said Pam Greaf. "And they have to go after they get off (work)."

The U.S. Postal Service says the changes involve higher fuel prices and lower mail volumes. Last year, post offices in the Mountain State processed 5.5 billion fewer pieces of mail. But local residents say it's a problem for them.

"With the price of gas going up, they want to do it all in one trip," says Linda Smith. "They don't want to put it off until another day, and they just want to get their business done and go home."

A fourth of the state's post offices will be operating at reduced hours by the beginning of November.

"Their service is excellent. I love it," Smith says. "It's so convienent for me and everyone else in town. They need to keep it open until 6:00."

A check of Washington County's two largest post offices indicates no changes in hours are planned either in Marietta or in Belpre.