Post offices primed for holiday volume.

Carson City's post offices are keeping pace with holiday mailings and seeing an increase in retail traffic, the postmaster said Tuesday.

"We've added staffing on the retail windows at all three stations in anticipation of the increased traffic," Postmaster Doug Hval said. "And our processing plant in Reno has hired additional help."

Hval, who has been in Carson City about 18 months including the 1998 holiday season, recommended postal patrons take advantage of one change.

"The new Ormsby Station replaced the old Airport Station near Lompa Lane, and it is now a full-service station with three retail windows and a full range of services," he said. "It has open merchandising like the Postal Express at Kmart, where people can select their own stamps from the walls."

And the Ormsby Station has its own parking lot and drive-through mail drop lane.

"I'd encourage everyone on that side of town to take advantage of the new facilities there," Hval said. A visit to the Ormsby Station at noon Tuesday showed no waiting for service.

Of course, Hval also is asking everyone to mail early in anticipation of high holiday parcel volumes.

To help keep things moving briskly during the busy season, Hval said, the postal service will have a lobby director who will help by directing people with non-monetary transactions to the proper windows, answering questions and otherwise helping people before they ever reach a window.

Another special feature until Christmas will be a person specifically to handle stamp sales, he said.

The postal service will be delivering packages and express mail on two Sundays, Dec. 12 and 18, and express mail will even be delivered on Christmas Day, Hval said, all for no added charge.

By next Christmas, Carson City is expected to have a new Main Post Office at South Roop Street and Little Lane. Hval said construction may begin soon, weather permitting, and the new post office could be open by Nov. 1, 2000.

Special hours for Carson City Post Offices through Dec. 24 will be:

Carson Main Post Office, 311 East Washington St.

Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturdays Dec. 11 and 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Post Office Express in SuperKmart, 3456 N. Carson St.

Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ormsby Station, at Highway 50 East and Empire Ranch Road.

Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.