Smoke Signals
Shawnee Mission, KS, Letter Carrier Maurice Jackson was delivering mail when he noticed a cloud of black smoke in the air. He thought it was unusual for someone to be burning leaves this late in the season. As he turned onto the next street, he saw smoke coming from a customer’s house and immediately called 911. His quick actions prevented the homeowners from being injured — and from losing their home.
Persistence Pays Off
When Avon Lake, OH, Letter Carrier Christine Dougan smelled natural gas near a customer's home, she quickly informed the residents who notified the gas company. A check for gas leaks was negative. A few weeks later, at the same spot, Dougan caught another whiff of the distinctive odor. “I insisted that there was a gas leak somewhere — I was certain,” said Dougan.
The customer phoned the gas company again, and this time investigators discovered a large leak between the street and house.
“They immediately turned off the gas and installed new lines,” the customer wrote a letter praising Dougan’s actions. “This took about four days to complete. Christine’s sense of smell saved what might have been a catastrophic situation for our family, our home and our neighbors — she’s our hero.”
Assist and Move On
Maquoketa, IA, Rural Carrier Stuart Anderson was delivering his route in the middle of a snowstorm when he came upon a customer who had fallen while walking from her car to the house. The woman, unable to get up by herself, had lain there for 40 minutes when Anderson found her. Anderson assisted her to the house, made sure she was safe, and continued on his route. The customer later called the Maquoketa Post Office to express her gratitude.
