Many mailboxes held holiday surprises Monday afternoon, andpostal employees worked double-time to deliver the increasedvolume.

“We couldn’t get all our mail on the truck. We usually make twotrips and (Monday) we had to make three,” Postmaster Gary Blacksaid.

The Brookhaven Post Office, which handles all Lincoln Countymail except Bogue Chitto, was in charge of delivering 66,937 piecesof mail Monday. Usually the office handles about 30,000 pieces ofmail a day, Black said.

“It’s one of our heaviest volume days as far as delivery isconcerned,” he said.

Monday’s busy delivery day was anticipated, because post officesacross the nation experienced high volumes of mail being sent outlast week.

“We had people lined up out the door last week,” Black said.

Postal employees knew to expect another busy day, with just oneweek left before Christmas Eve. They arrived at work early andready to make their routes as close to the regular schedule aspossible.

All postal carriers from Brookhaven and the surrounding areacompleted their routes by 4:30 p.m., which is the normal finishingtime, said Black, complimenting the employees for theirdetermination.

“They all had about 40 to 45 packages apiece, where they usuallyaverage about eight or nine each,” he said, adding that the volumeof mail delivered here would not even compare to larger offices,such as Jackson.

Postal employees will continue to deliver holiday mail on time,right up to Christmas Day.

“We’re not expanding any hours, but we’re making sure we havetwo people at both windows at all times,” Black said.

The Brookhaven Post Office will remain open until 1:30 p.m.Monday, Dec. 24, which is Christmas Eve. It will be closed onChristmas Day, but express mail will be delivered Tuesday. Officehours will resume a regular schedule Wednesday.