Mailing deadlines loom

RITZVILLE — Local U.S. Postal Service workers are in their busiest week of the year.

According to the Postal Service, this week, Dec. 12-18, will be the busiest of the year as patrons’ delivery needs increase ahead of the Christmas holiday. As a result, Sunday delivery has been expanded in several communities.

The Postal Service recommends sending packages as follows, if you want them to arrive by Christmas:

• Dec. 16 — Military addresses such as APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093).

• Dec. 17 — First-Class mail service letters and packages of less than 60 ounces, or to send First-Class and Priority Mail to Hawaii.

• Dec. 18 — First-Class and Priority Mail to Alaska

• Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service

• Dec. 21 — Priority Mail Express to Alaska and Hawaii.

• Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service

The Postal Service is also reminded those sending packages that lithium-ion batteries must be sent using ground transportation services only.