Oregon Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Postal Service has changed its mind about stopping airmail service to about 20 families living in the mountains of central Idaho.

Earlier this year, the financially-strapped agency decided to cancel its contract with pilot Ray Arnold.

The Postal Service pays him $46,000 a year to fly letters and packages to the people who live in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

But Idaho congressional members, like Democrat Walt Minnick, complained.

Walt Minnick: “They are folks that live in the backcountry and they have to have access to the outside world and the fact that the mail comes in allows them to maintain the rest of their existence.”

Postmaster General John Potter says, upon further review, his agency decided that, in this case, alternatives to airmail would not provide adequate service.