POSTAL SERVICE ACCEPTS EXAM APPLICATIONS THROUGH MONDAY

Applications to take the rural mail-carrier entrance examination for jobs at 17 area post offices may be picked up at post offices through Monday, the U.S. Postal Service announced.

The purpose of the exam is to compile names of people interested in being rural carriers at the post offices, a Postal Service spokesman said. The spokesman said the service does not anticipate hiring more than one person per post office over the next two years.

A register of eligible people will be established from the exam, said the spokesman. The register will be used most often for hiring rural carrier associates. Associates are non-career, temporary employees who substitute for regular rural carriers, he said.

After one year as an associate, carriers are eligible to bid on regular rural routes, said the spokesman.

Post offices compiling registers are at Frohna, Jackson, Millersville, Oak Ridge, Perryville, St. Marys, Ste. Genevieve, Potosi, Mineral Point, Ironton, Flat River, Farmington, Cadet, Bonne Terre, Bismarck and Belgrade.

The minimum age requirement is 18. Eligible people must have a valid Missouri operator's license, demonstrate a safe driving record, and must pass the Postal Service's road test.

The pay for an associate is $11.83 per hour. Starting salaries for regular rural carriers range from $22,974 to $29,977 annually.