We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Ruth Hawley's acceptance of the postmistress position in Hays, Montana, left the Chinook Post Office missing a postal clerk. That situation changed after Ashley Bronec's official first day on September 12.
Although Bronec attended junior high and high school in Shelby and currently lives in Havre with her husband, Flint, she has ties to Chinook. For example, she recalls spending many Memorial Day and Veterans Day holidays with her grandparents Shirley (Croft) Gardipee and the late Edward Gardipee in Chinook when she was growing up. With an August 29, 2020 wedding date, Bronec is also a newlywed.
Bronec's career with the United States Postal Service (USPS) began as Ashley Vande Kop in May of 2017 at the Havre station where she worked for a time before serving in Kremlin at a Remotely Managed Post Office (RMPO). An RMPO, Bronec explained, is a post office that offers part-time window service hours, is staffed by a postal service employee at the direction of a postmaster, and reports to an Administrative Post Office. She performed at the Kremlin RMPO until a career position as a clerk opened in Big Sandy. Bronec has also clerked in Harlem, Box Elder, and even for a time previously in Chinook during her service with the USPS.
When she's not engaged with customers and operations at the post office, Bronec enjoys flower gardening, riding horses, travelling, and crocheting. "I actually learned how to crochet by taking a workshop with Blaine County Extension," she said.
About her position in Chinook, Bronec stated, "I like it here. The time goes by quickly at the post office because I'm always busy, and in general, people are nice. I'm constantly learning new things, and that's always good."
