After lobbying by Congressman Howard Coble, the U.S. Postal Service has decided to extend, rather than cut, the hours at the downtown Pinehurst post office.

Coble said in a news release that the U.S. Postal Service had informed him that beginning Monday, April 13, the village post office's window will be open for business Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Postmaster Denise Krise had announced in February that the post office's hours would be reduced to 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., effective March 16, much to the chagrin of local residents and business owners.

"We've heard the community's concerns, and we re-examined our data," Mid-Carolinas District Manager Dave Fields said in a news release from the Postal Service. "While we will continue to work to lower costs in the Pinehurst Village Post Office, we realize that we can do so and still maintain a level of service that is acceptable for our customers."

Coble expressed his gratitude to Fields for being receptive to the public feedback.

"I want to thank David Fields, district manager for the mid-Carolinas Region in Charlotte, for listening to our arguments and concerns," Coble said in the release. "The citizens with whom I met made a compelling case for keeping the downtown Pinehurst post office open for longer hours, and I shared those sentiments with David and his outstanding team."

More than 800 residents had signed a petition requesting additional hours at the downtown post office after the changes in hours were announced in February. Vocal business leaders opposed to cutting back the hours spoke out at a recent Pinehurst Village Council meeting.

Pinehurst business owner Tom Stewart, who has been at the forefront of the issue, said that he was proud of what Coble was able to accomplish but said that he had hoped the hours would be extended even more.

"I think it's commendable that Congressman Coble responded as quickly as he did," he said. "Is it better? Absolutely. Is it what it ought to be? Probably not. We're still going to go forward and still try to get 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an extra service person."

Stewart said having an extra clerk was vital for a post office that serves so many people. He added that long lines have become commonplace since service was reduced.

A public hearing on the matter is still expected be held at 6 p.m., April 14, at Assembly Hall, according to Village Manager Andy Wilkison.

Contact John Krahnert III at 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.