WILLOW CREEK, CA — For the past 30 years Willow Creek has had a friend in Postmaster Algena Hanger-Fullerton. When Algena started her postal career in 1995 as a clerk at the Willow Creek Post Office, Toy Story captivated audiences and technology transcended entertainment as online marketplaces and technology transformed communication.
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, she will clock-in for the last time after three decades of service all served at the Willow Creek Post Office, 100 Country Club Drive, Willow Creek CA 95573.
“I was raised to stick with a job, to plan for the future, to ride the ups and downs and think of being young when I retire,” said Algena.
Algena chose to apply to the Postal Service after some encouragement by a friend who knew of a job opening in the area. “In our small town, it was major if good jobs had openings,” she said. After earning the job as clerk at the Willow Creek Post Office she went on to be promoted as Postmaster in 2007.
Raised by a family committed to hard work her dad retired from a county government position after nearly 40 years of service, her husband from the military and county after nearly 30 years and her brother also working 30 years for the state of California.
That commitment lead her on a postal journey all served in her hometown of Willow Creek, a community she is proud to serve.
“I am true Willow Creek resident. When people move into Willow Creek, they often ask me, ‘How long have you lived here?’ wanting feedback and I say, ‘All my life,’ or they ask me if I have seen Bigfoot as we are in Bigfoot territory and that answer is always, ‘Not yet.’”
Algena recounted being born at home in Willow Creek in 1964 when a flood took out all the bridges, roads, power and brought the small town together. Food and medication were flown and dropped by helicopters. It was a helicopter that brought a doctor to the small house that she was born in, in just his stockings. Her dad served as his nurse.
Over the course of her career Algena witnessed a lot of change with the implementation of new technology including computers and scanners with the expansion of barcodes on packages.
She states she is proud of the performance of her office in scanning today, having achieved a 100 percent scanning score in the month of December, the busiest time of year.
As Willow Creek Postmaster Algena oversaw a total of three offices including Willow Creek, CA 95573, Burnt Ranch, CA 95527, and Salyer, CA 95563. In her role she managed four employees and oversaw the retail services and distribution of 800 packages per week, nearly 300 daily delivery stops and over 1,500 PO Boxes.
Algena plans to spend time with her grandchildren during her retirement and stay close to her parents.
She also plans to travel in her spare time.
She will miss the good friends she made at work and seeing the community on a regular basis.
