OCR Text |
Show O Hilltop Times September 4. 2003 Chocolate not recommended Letters, small packages get to troops quicker by K.L. Vantran American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON The U.S. Postal Service and the Military Postal Service Agency process about 2 million pounds of mail a week for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some items make it to the recipient faster than others, said Navy Lt Cmdr. Brian Lomax, agency chief of plans and policy. Depending on where it originates, a letter or package spends "a couple of days" in the USPS system before it reaches either San Francisco or New York City, Lomax said. Then it travels another 16 to 19 hours by plane before landing in Kuwait or Bahrain. From there, it's picked up or delivered by motor vehicle. Once in theater, a letter takes seven to 14 stay (at the mail facility). The ideal size is a days to reach the service member, while a package usually takes 14 to 24 days, Lomax added. Packages make up 90 percent of the shoebox. It's also important to correctly address the package." Aerosol cans, alcoholic beverages, ammu- mail. nition, fireworks, flammable or explosive materials and illegal or infectious substances are among items that cannot be mailed to service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more or visit the information, call USPS Web site. The mail is getting to the troops," he said. The troops are happy. Our intent is to continue to make improvements and exceed their expectations." Using automated mail scanning equipment and increasing the number of people working at mail facilities are two improvements that have speeded up mail delivery, Lomax said. People who mail letters and packages also can help, he added. The size of the package plays an important role," Lomax said. "Large packages take up a lot more room. If there's a choice between taking one large box or a lot of smaller boxes and letters, the large box will Aircraft readied for arctic duty from page 1 two to eight weeks depending on their active status and when they deploy. At any given time we have 80 to 90 people there," said Gardner. The sun never goes down while we're there, so people have to sleep in special rooms insulated from the sunlight. There are lots of penguins and seals but the sc- ientists don't want anybody getting to close to them. Though it's not one of the restricted items, Lomax recommends against sending chocolate. "Chocolate and 140 degrees makes chocolate paste," he said. Cookies and sunflower seeds seem to travel well, he added, and placing cookies in a coffee can helps to protect them. Heat also takes its toll on the tape used in Everything is white so we wear sunglasses to prevent blindness. I've been in a storm there before, but it normally doesn't snow, it's all ice." Wind swept ice can cause even Hercules to sit down for a while and caused the longest aircraft taxi in history when 0 an drove 40 miles back to base, according to Martinez. The stay there for the season, only leaving for maintenance work that is conducted at Christchurch, New Zealand, which is the jumping off point for Antarctica from solid land. The flight takes approximately eight hours and ends at one LC-13- LC-13- & upholstery C-1- http:astro.uchicago.educaravtourmcmurdo. 544-177- Protect your investment 1 II Cash i r I Prin 2679 Midland Dr. 6, Ogden via r t Lamtart I IS 1st insrallMl as.m iff The Original is still the best! FRIEZE CARPET I ai 1 $19.99 9 mrraiuyl Looking for a 2W 5 1 SSgt to Swap to AFB Seymour-Johnso- n 2 Dozen r r. NORTH CAROLINA! M JntEE CALl0liiLAMIIMTilMOHAWKj I nr oiiwT I I SOFT TOUCH em . SWAP TO Rose Special 612 North Main Kaysville ' continued. "When I was out at sea, it was always a joy to get a letter from home or a copy of a report card. It's an exhilarating feeling: 'I'm out here doing my job, and they haven't forgotten who I am." Lomax said the mail system's success is a result of the joint effort of the USPS and his agency. "We have motivated soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who are committed to doing their job to make sure the mail gets to the troops," he said. of two airstrips on the frozen continent, Williams or Ross. Ross Airfield is hard enough to support wheels and Starlifters make occasional stops. The U.S. Navy had the support mission from 1955 through 1999, at the Navy's request the Air Force took over the support mission in 1998. The New York ANG had augmented the mission since 1988. For more information and photos New York NAG and NSF. activities related to Operation Deep Freeze, take a virtual tour of McMurdo Station in Antarctica at llson's Top Shop For Boat Covers and Upholstering packaging, Lomax said. The USPS Web site states a clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape or paper tape is best Cord, string and twine should not be used, because they can get caught in the mail processing equipment. Service members love to get mail, Lomax t If you are tired of the cold and want to work in the South, contact Chuck or Tina locally at Jimmy's Flower Shop it Ogden Layton 773-277- 5 066-011- 5 A DIRECT mm? iimmp mmimiut m mm $mm, tiwa Prostate Exam mwtst mmrnm :.:W .... V iJ m" :w at mmwmimm mmmmmm mm I i Do could save your life. around and need the ones who love it for you you for all the important things in life. you are a man over 50 and have not had a prostate exam in the past year, come to our Prostate Cancer Screening Clinic. If you have a family history of prostate cancer or you are an African American man over 45, you are at higher risk to develop prostate 2 3 for more information or to schedule an appointment or cancer. Call are not necessary, but may shorten wait time). (appointments If 387-333- ' fv -- V 387-333- PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING CLINICS Tuesday, September 9, 2003, 8 p.m. Health Department at the Weber-Morga- n 2570 Grant Avenue, Ogden 6-- i Wednesday, September 10, 2003, 8 p.m. at the Val A. Browning Cancer Treatment Center in the new McKay-De- e hospital 4401 Harrison Boulevard, Ogden 6-- n Hospital is looking for men age 55 or older and men age 50 or older to take part in a nationwide research study to find out if prostate cancer can be prevented. More information about the trial will be available at the screenings or you can call the Clinical Trials Office at McKay-De- e Hospital at (801) McKay-De- e you've had a recent change in your duty status, get in touch with GEICO immediately. We offer: Discounts for active duty, guard, reserve and retired military o Offices near most military bases o Reduced coverage for securedstored vehicles o Emergency deployment discounts. We've served the military since 1936 and we're standing by you now. Call us. If (801) 775-802- 0 1 Military 1513 N. Hillfield Rd., Suite 3 block NE of Layton Hills Mall African-America- 387-740- 6. Layton discounts not available in all states or in all GEICO companies. Government Employees Insurance Co. GEICO General Insurance Co. CEIC0 Indemnity Co. Co. These companies are subsidiaries ot Berkshire Hathaway Inc. GEICO auto insurance is not available in MA or NJ. GEICO. Washington, DC 20076. C 2003 GEICO GEICO "tft McKay-De-e IHC A Stm of nrcnnountain Center Hospital tfcohh Cure Casualty Having trouble keeping the kids busy after school? Then check out the Youth Activities Center! p.m., & Saturday 9 p.m., Closed Sundays Featuring kid's crafts, activities, and sports. For more information contact the Youth center, Ext. Monday-Thursda- y 3-- 7 p.m., Friday 3-- 9 5-- Note: PreregWtration deadline for activities and field trips is three days prior to the event. |