By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

WOODSTON -- Don't count Woodston out just yet.

The community attracted perhaps the smallest group of residents to a public meeting to discuss the possible closure of the town's post office, but they were a determined bunch.

They aren't willing to stand by and watch as their post office is closed, the victim of a financial crisis in the U.S. Postal Service.

Only 17 Woodston residents turned out for Wednesday's public meeting, but they wanted to know why the office might close and what they could do to stop it.

Afterward, talk of a petition -- to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which must approve the closure -- was discussed by those attending, including members of the city council.

The U.S. Postal Service, weighed down by massive financial losses, has started reviewing post offices across the nation, targeting those that are small and especially those lacking a full-time postmaster.

In northwest Kansas, the USPS already has targeted Alexander, Cedar, Gaylord, Athol and Brownell to be studied for possible closure. But, for the first time in three weeks, no new offices have been added to the list for possible closure.

At each of the meetings, postal authorities repeatedly have said a decision hasn't been made, although many communities fear a different scenario ultimately will play out.

The schedule and process for closing a post office was the biggest topic of the night at the Woodston meeting, with Dan Taylor, operations manager for the Salina district, detailing the need for a 60-day study to look at the post office operation.

From there, it will go the PRC, which has 30 days to review and make a decision.

The community then has 120 days to appeal the decision.

With so many studies on the table, Taylor said, it's likely the Woodston review might take closer to 75 days.

"This is a long process," he said.

As with other cities, Woodston would be served by a rural mail carrier, in this case out of Stockton. Mailboxes would be set up on both sides of the street in Woodston, unlike some other towns where they all would be on one side of the street.

While the community would keep its Zip code, it would lose its postmark. And it would lose its blue drop-off mailbox.

Taylor was asked about the woman now working in the post office, an officer in charge who receives no benefits.

"Certainly I'm going to do anything I can for anyone who works for me to keep them off unemployment," he said.

When questioned about the criteria to close a post office falling only on finances, Taylor said most small offices would be closed.

"Truth of the matter is if revenue had anything to do with it, the small offices never would have been opened," he said.