Mercer gets new postmaster

By RICHARD JENKINS

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MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer has a new postmaster after Niki Bock was sworn in Friday afternoon in front of the town’s post office.

As postmaster, Bock will oversee the general operations of the post office.

“I do everything from throw mail to take customer complaints,” she said after the brief ceremony. Anything (the customers) need … help with. I pretty much oversee everything.”

Bock, who is from Hurley, said she started her seven-year career with the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier in Ironwood before becoming a supervisor in Escanaba and then transferring to Mercer.

“I worked my butt off to get where I’m at,” she said, acknowledging her rise to postmaster has been rapid.

She said she was looking forward to the challenge of her new job and the additional responsibilities she is taking on.

At the end of the ceremony, the assembled crowd broke into a spontaneous rendition of “God Bless America,” at the urging of one of the audience members.

Afterwards, there was cookies, cake and refreshments inside the post office.