Our postmaster here is Martha Viner. She has held that post for 19 years. The current hours for business are Monday-Friday 8:45am-11:30am and then after lunch from 12:30pm -3:45pm. Saturday business time is 8:45am-9:45am. The phone number is 641-946-8131. There are 250 delivery boxes in the office box section as well 260 rural route delivery boxes. A fact many of us may not know is that the Lovilia office administers the Columbia community postal business. If you want to buy stamps or print a package label you can do so 24 hours a day on your home computer. The only method of on line payment is the credit card. To use this service go to usps.com. Does purchasing on line hurt the Lovilia Post Office? Martha says,” No, purchases online are credited to Lovilia’s office by tracking the zipcode”. This is a very helpful tip to workers who are not able to come during normal business hours.
Services are selling postage stamps, shipping packages including express and priority mail, and selling money orders. Money orders can only be purchased with cash. Credit card or debit card as well as cash can be used for stamp purchases and shipping packages. Postage stamp cost raises to 44 cents each on May 11, 2009.
Outside of work Martha is active in Lion’s club and P.E.O. which is an organization that provides scholarships for women. Her pet is a Siamese cat and her sport to watch is hockey. She has three grown children. Ben is a philosophy professor at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Josh is an equine veterinarian in Opelousas, Louisiana. Daughter Meg is an assistant manager at Marion, Iowa Hyvee grocery store.
It is wonderful to have our own post office and Martha says it should be here for many years to come.
James Findley Sr. and his wife Margaret settled here in 1837
That was one year before Iowa became a state. The farm they started east of Lovilia is still being farmed by their descendants. Jerry Findley and wife Tonya bought the farm from his dad and are the sixth generation to farm that land. This makes them one of the oldest if not the oldest farm in Monroe County still in the same families hands. Jerry’s parents are David and Lorraine Findley. That is a wonderful family history of being rooted in one place for 172 years. Albia celebrates there existence as a town this year for 150 years. Findleys have 22 more years of history! wow! Best wishes that you continue this family heritage.
IN Memory
Pauline Welsh, age 84, lifetime resident of the Lovilia area died April 12, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband William “Bill” Welsh. She has four sons. Gene of Urbandale, Iowa and Tim, Tom, and Pat of Lovilia. She enjoyed her time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was and active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and worked many hours with the ladies of St. Peter’s Altar and Rosary Society. She was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Weller, Iowa.
Lovilia Seniors Win Honors
Devon Gottschalk and Shelby Wuebker received the Academic Achievement Award at the the State FFA meeting. Both have been active in FFA all through high school at Albia.
Nathan Chamberlain, son of Pam and Calvin, won an award as outstanding soloist at the statewide Jazz Championships in DesMoines. He plays piano in the Eddyville-Blakesburg High School Jazz Band. His piano teacher is Margaret Kistler of Oskaloosa. Nathan is a senior this year and will enter William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri in the fall. He will remain active in their music program and study international relations.
Aaron Kurimski on well ranked Academic Team
Albia high school academic team was fourth of of 12 teams that competed in a conference academic bowl and freshman, Aaron Kurimski, son of Bernard and Helen was a part of the team. Good job.
May 3, 2009 Celebration at St. Peter’s Church, Lovilia
After mass a pancake breakfast was served at the church hall to honor three special groups of young people. Group one was the children receiving first communion, Daniel Beary and Jer McAninch. Group 2 was the young people who received the sacrament of confirmation, Laura Davis, Emma Davis, and Jacqueline Gilbert. Group 3 are the high school graduates, Devon Gottschalk, Andrew Kurimski, Shelby Wuebker, and Ricky Gilbert.
Devon plans to study mechanical engineering at the university in Ames, Iowa. Andrew plans to attend Drake University,Des Moines, Iowa. Shelby will finish two years at IHCC in Ottumwa and then transfer to a four year university to study psychiatry. Ricky will finish his summer baseball season and then pick a school where he wants to be in their ball program.
Hastings Coon Hound a Champion
Tom Hastings and son Andrew entered their dog, Betsy Lou in the UKC state hunt in February. They came in first one day and second the second day with enough points to earn the overall championship. There were about 70 dogs in competition. Congratulation guys!
