Post Office welcomes new clerk

Meet Tracey Youbles, the new smiling face at the Lincoln Post Office.

Youbles took over as Lincoln's postal clerk, a position held for many years by Teresa Sutton, who earlier this month moved to Wisconsin with her husband John to be closer to family.

Youbles began working for the United States Postal Service last December. She started in Helmville, then accepted a position at the Ovando branch. While there, she would also occasionally help at the Seeley Lake location before accepting the position in Lincoln.

Youbles has been settling in well and learning a lot from longtime postmaster, Zach Muse. She says that Ovando was a manual station and that while she had training on all the automated services like Lincoln has, she's found herself asking a lot of questions, but adds she's learning quickly and that he's being very patient with her. She's enjoyed her time so far with the USPS and says it just really seems to fit her. She enjoys meeting so many different people and enjoys providing quality customer service to all those that come in to whatever location she happens to be in.

So far, she likes working in Lincoln and appreciates the quiet small town that it is. Though she hasn't been out a lot yet due to her commute, she likes getting to know everyone who comes into the post office. While she doesn't remember everyone's name right now, she's getting there and says the community has been very welcoming.

Youbles commutes from Seeley Lake to Lincoln each day, but said she's hoping to sell her place and relocate to Lincoln. She also would like to be more involved in the Lincoln community once she does make that move, but it has been really hard for her to do so right now because she does live so far away.

Born in Illinois, Youbles came to Montana in 1978 when her parents moved their family here, and she's been here ever since. She has two children, ages 20 and 21 who both reside in Missoula. Her kids were basketball players for Seeley Swan and she came to know Lincoln through their games.

Youbles enjoys the Montana lifestyle and says her favorite things about Montana are the openness and lower population rates. She likes to travel, particularly via "road trips," either on her own or with her kids. Road trips just really appeal to her because they can stop and go explore. She enjoys cities like Seattle, but always likes coming home, where it's nice and quiet, without a lot of hustle and bustle.

When she's not working, she also enjoys camping, hiking and visiting the lakes. She's also an avid huckleberry picker, and said she'd show someone where some huckleberries are, but her spot is still a secret. Her freezer is full of huckleberries and other fruit for making jams later this year.

During your next stop to the Lincoln Post Office, stop in and introduce yourself and get acquainted with Tracey.