Signed, sealed, delivered
Just think of all the things in the mail that are important to people.
Paul Jahr does. It’s been his job now for 9 years.
On July 8 the Tea postal clerk started his tenth year at the Tea Post Office.
Perhaps the most familiar face there, Jahr mans the front counter and handles most of the daily traffic and transactions. He also makes sure to sprinkle some laughs throughout the day.
He admits he likes to pull people’s legs. He knows more than half the customers who come in, often well enough to ask how things are going with their jobs, their families, their lives.
For many customers there’s a certain expectation when they step up to the counter.
“I have people come in expecting a story, and I have to dig, because we are here to please and serve,” Jahr said with a smile.
For instance: Have you heard the one about the penny?
“I have a bunch of people that come in here. We always share a good story and a good laugh. I love hearing stories and telling stories I’ll give them change and hold the penny and say, ‘Did you know they’re to stop making the penny?’ The person will say ‘Oh?’ Then I’ll say, ‘I don’t know, but it bothers me because we’re going to end up with people in this area with no sense,’” Jahr said.

Prior to joining the Tea Post Office in 2007, he owned a shipping business, which he sold in 2000 before taking the U.S. postal exam. He got his score and was told if there were any openings, he’d be contacted.
Seven years later, Jahr got a call from Marilyn Renbeck, Tea’s former postmaster. The post office was downtown, next to the Tea Steak House, in 2007, when Jahr joined the staff as a clerk.
“And the rest is history,” he said with a smile.
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