COLUMBIA FALLS — Milton Haulton III, a letter carrier from the U.S. Post Office in Ellsworth, has been appointed officer-in-charge of the Columbia Falls Post Office.

Steven Pelletier of Bangor, manager of Post Office Operations for the ZIP code area that includes Columbia Falls, said Haulton will begin work Thursday, Dec. 16, as OIC of the office at Columbia Falls.

Haulton will be the temporary replacement for Bernard Hawbaker, who served the local office as postmaster for seven years until his death on Dec. 5.

Pelletier said the postmaster position will be advertised within 60 days, and the position will be filled within the next 120 days.

Mary Ortega of Columbia Falls, Hawbaker’s assigned “post master relief” has been serving in that capacity since Monday, Dec. 6.