With just eight days remaining until the announced closing of the U.S. Post Office on Davis Drive, elected officials in Washington are trying to prevent the full-service facility from shutting its doors.

Notices were posted throughout the post office in January stating that the Northside station on the eastern side of Warner Robins would close on February 12.

When word spread of the closing, a group of concerned citizens got together and stationed themselves about two weeks ago outside the post office with picket signs and petitions, urging residents to contact their local and national representatives.

Earlier this week during a city council meeting, Mayor Chuck Shaheen issued a resolution and announced he will enlist the help of U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall and U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.

Speaking from his office in Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon, Marshall said he had not been made aware of the closing until late last week. He said he had contacted Julius Locklear, district manager for the South Georgia district of the U.S. Postal Service, about the situation, asking if there was any chance they could revisit the issue regarding the February 12 closing.

"He said they were too far down the road to change," Marshall said, adding that he told Locklear there had been no opportunity for local citizens or leaders to provide their input on the issue.

"That just didn't sound right to me," said Marshall.

Marshall said he had spoken a second time to Locklear on the idea of the post office possibly working out a three-month extension on the building's lease with the owners of the property, who he said are in Englewood, N.J. If that could be arranged under the lease's same current terms, the additional time could give everyone time to take a deep breath and see what options there were, said Marshall.

Marshall added it was Wayne Lowe, owner of Lowe Toyota, who first alerted him of the post office closing. Marshall said Lowe was also trying to contact the building owners.

As of Thursday afternoon, Marshall said he had not heard back from Locklear about the proposed extension idea.

"We don't have a yay or nay. That's where we're at right now," said Marshall.

Marshall said if an extension couldn't be reached, he would be contacting the postmaster general.

A spokesperson from Sen. Johnny Isakson's office in Washington said their office had just received a request early Thursday afternoon from Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen’s office seeking for assistance.

According to Sheridan Watson, press secretary, legislative staffers have contacted the U.S. Postal Service.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss' office said they were aware of the closing in Warner Robins. He issued the following statement, "I’ve heard from several folks in Warner Robins, including Mayor Shaheen, and my office is contacting the postal service on their behalf. The post office has been around since 1950 and many folks in the community rely on it.”

To learn more and for additional updates, check back Friday on www.warnerrobinspatriot.com .