Sharyl Mataya, Hinckley, IL
Hinckley, IL, Rural Carrier Sharyl Mataya became concerned when she noticed a customer hadn’t collected mail in several days. The lights were on in the house, but the woman’s car hadn’t been moved. Mataya and Postmaster David Carvelli called the police, who found the customer had died.
Michelle Howard, Gravette, AR
Gravette, AR, Rural Carrier Michelle Howard was on her route when she saw smoke pouring out of a house. She knocked on the door to alert the resident. When no one answered, she called 911. Firefighters arrived and found the homeowner asleep inside and unaware the house had caught fire.