Gary Black is acting postmaster for the Vicksburg Post Office following Herman Mannery’s retirement. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[01/02/01] With the year 2000 and 2001 here, Vicksburg has a new officer in charge of the U.S. Postal Service operations in the city.

Gary Black of Brookhaven took over last week as the acting postmaster, succeeding Herman Mannery, who retired after 6 1/2 years in the post office’s top spot.

Black said he is technically the officer in charge of the Vicksburg Post Office. He will act as postmaster for 90 days or until the Postal Service picks a new postmaster.

“Probably they will advertise the job nationwide beginning after the first of the year,” Black said.

He said the postal service will probably advertise the job for two weeks and then take at least another two weeks to get in all the resumes and go over them.

The process could take from six weeks to three months to complete since Black’s appointment as officer in charge is for up to 90 days.

Black has been with the Postal Service for more than 23 years. He started as a city carrier in Jackson and spent all of his career in Jackson. He is still listed as the postmaster in Brookhaven, a post he has held since Dec. 18, 1999.