By Bryant Thigpen
Riverbend News
Hundreds of local residents in Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties have subscribed to the Riverbend News and they will soon be receiving their weekly newspaper through the United States Postal Service (USPS). While this newspaper is currently available in stores and newspaper boxes across the three counties, the company is currently awaiting approval from USPS in Jacksonville before newspapers can be sent through the mail to local subscribers.
According to the Publisher, Emerald Greene, the required documents have been submitted to the USPS office in Jacksonville for a periodical permit. Once it’s been approved by the Jacksonville office, it will then be sent to the USPS office in Live Oak. Then, it has to be approved by the local offices, subscribers will then be able to receive their subscriptions through the mail.
Riverbend News has been informed that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of the postal service employees are working from home, which has caused a delay in the permit being approved. However, the staff is hopeful that the periodical permit will be approved in time for the release of the next edition.
Anyone who has subscribed to the newspaper may stop by the newspaper office located at 130 West Howard Street, in Live Oak, and pick up a free copy. However, your yearly subscription will not officially start until the first edition is delivered to your mailbox.