Three postmasters settle into new roles

A trio of Calaveras County post offices have new postmasters appointed within the past month.

The three women each have prior postmaster experience in Calaveras or neighboring counties.

Copperopolis’ new postmaster is Debbie Ansted, the first to hold the position on a permanent basis since Tim Brown left two years ago to take on the same role in Valley Springs.

Ansted previously served as the Vallecito postmaster for four years and has spent 24  years with the U.S. Postal Service.

Her career has also included a stint of two and a half years as postmaster in the Merced County town of Snelling and employment with the Angels Camp and Stockton post offices.

Ansted said she has lived in Copperopolis for more than 20 years and was excited for the opportunity to work closer to home.

New West Point Postmaster Mary Fine had ties to the town before she went to work there last month.

“I’ve gone to West Point for many years, to things like Lumberjack Days. I have cousins who live here and I think it’s a really awesome area,” Fine said. “I’m excited to be serving the West Point community.”

She worked in Amador City as its postmaster for five years and her 28-year career with the post office includes three years as officer-in-charge, essentially an interim postmaster, in Pioneer, Pine Grove and Diamond Springs.

Mokelumne Hill’s new postmaster, Cathy Stevens, comes to the community from tiny Volcano in Amador County. She spent 13 years as the postmaster there before coming to Mokelumne Hill on July 16.

Stevens has been with the Postal Service for 28 years and resides in Amador County.

The Vallecito postmaster position remains vacant but the opening has been advertised, according to a Postal Service representative. It is yet to be determined when the position will be filled. Following retirements, Brown said the Burson and Mountain Ranch post offices also are awaiting the appointment of new postmasters with an officer-in-charge filling in in the interim.7741.