Manning will serve as Vermillion postmaster

Manning will serve as Vermillion postmaster by M. Jill Sundstrom Mike Manning is the new postmaster at the Vermillion Post Office.

The Vermillion native was officially sworn in June 9 by John Hummel, manager of Post Office Operations, Huron. He succeeds John Weber, who retired in January.

Manning has been employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 21 years � 19 of those at Vermillion and two at Elk Point as postmaster. He steps up to the Vermillion postmaster position after serving as supervisor of customer service here.

�I�ve also been a window clerk, distribution clerk and bulk mail permit clerk,� Manning said. �It�s been a varied career.�

Manning is a Vermillion High School graduate, and obtained a degree in business and government from The University of South Dakota. He took the civil service postal test when he was a junior in college.

�I had originally thought to get into city management as a career, but that never materialized,� he said. �After I graduated and was looking for a job, there was an opening at the post office. Once I got it, I stayed. The rest is history, as they say.�

Manning is proud of the Vermillion Post Office, one he says is customer-oriented, where trust has been established with friendly service.

�This has always been a good office,� he said. �The employees work well together and have always done a good job to help the customers with the service they need. It�s my goal to see that continue and improve.�

The Vermillion Post Office, which employs 25 people, handles from 30,000 to 40,000 pieces of mail daily, serving 6 1/2 city routes and four rural routes.

Manning and his wife Linda have two sons, Justin, 13, and Andrew, 11.