MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A disabled veteran said all she wants is her mail delivered. A few weeks ago, her postal carrier started holding her mail back, and it was a gut punch for Mary Kelley.
She has lived in her home for 25 years and never had an issue with mail being delivered. But about a month ago, her mailbox was moved. That’s when the postal carrier said he couldn’t turn around safely, so he stopped delivering her mail.
Since early July, Kelley’s postal carrier has not picked up her mail or delivered it. Her home is at the top of a gravel road which has a tight turn to it.
“He says my road is totally impassable. It had destroyed three of his vans, and that I must move my mailbox to the end of my driveway,” said Kelley.
Kelley doesn’t understand why her carrier can’t deliver the mail to its present location.
“[He] just needs to do a three-point turn which is referred to as a Y turn. Put it in the mailbox, go forward, back up, and it’s a clean shot down,” said Kelley.
Originally, the mailbox had been closer to her house where she’s lived for 25 years. However, when a carport was installed a month ago, the mailbox was moved about 30 feet from its original location.
In a letter, the Maryville post office informed Kelley that her mailbox was “moved without approval by the carrier or the postmaster.” The postal supervisor questioned the safety of its carrier having to turn around while delivering the mail.
“By postal guidelines, we don’t want our carriers reversing because there is a higher chance of an accident,” wrote the Maryville Post Office Supervisor. “In the meantime, we are holding your mail until the mailbox is put back.”
“I just want my mail. I have been denied it,” said Kelley. “I spoke with [the postal service] in Nashville today. They said under hardship, it needs to be at my house.”
6 News contacted the Postal Service for the Southern Region. The response is direct: it said “Her mailbox was inadvertently moved to another location. The local postal management is aware of this situation and is resuming delivery to her home.”