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BLACK EAGLE - The local post office narrowly missed being shut down two years ago when some 100 post offices were closed nationwide.

Now, closures in the thousands are in the works, so Montana's News Station visited the Black Eagle site to find out if the fight to remain open is something they'd be willing to pick up once again.

Sarah Peck visits the post office frequently, checking for deliveries to the Black Eagle Water District. She was one of the many residents who fought to keep the station open in July of 2009. To her, not having a post office in Black Eagle didn't make sense.

"The business is in Black Eagle. We are the Black Eagle Water District, and you know, I don't always get downtown every day," Peck noted.

The U.S. Postal Service is not tax-supported and must operate like any other business, through the sale of products and services. New shipping options like priority mail flat-rate boxes have given their numbers a needed boost.

"They've been a huge success. We had a 60% increase in that this past year alone," noted USPS Regional Manager Al DeSarro. While that's good news, the USPS is looking at eliminating Saturday service to reduce costs.

"That would save us a projected $3 to $5 billion a year in itself. There's been polls taken on this, the American public are in the majority of supporting that, you know, if it helps the Postal Service remain viable," DeSarro stated.

For many residents, the Postal Service is an important part of society - and Americana.

"I remember (it) when I was six years old...I hope they never become obsolete," post office customer Ethel McBurney said.

"We don't want to be swallowed into Great Falls. We are our own unique community," Peck.

USPS officials say the Black Eagle station is not currently being considered among the 2,000 possible closures.