ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996                 TAG: 9604260038
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS

THE ENVELOPE THAT KEPT GOING AND GOING

Consider the job hazard.

For heavy equipment operators, it's heavy equipment.

For electricians, it's electricity.

For U.S. Postal Service clerks, it's musical birthday cards!

Patrons of the Christiansburg Post Office were treated to a merry rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" Thursday morning as they waited at the clerk's window.

A customer had dropped off a bright yellow envelope obviously intended for a birthday boy or girl somewhere in these United States. Trouble was, the computer chip attached to the card inside the envelope began playing the electronic tune spontaneously - nonstop.

"I can't make it stop!" postman Paul Poff explained through clenched teeth as he greeted customers.

His partner, Clyde Perdue, found a workable solution when he stood in at Poff's post.

"I eliminated that thing," he said. "After listening to it for 10 minutes, I couldn't stand it any longer."

And what did Perdue do with the dogged ditty?

He buried it.

"I put it way down in that stack of outgoing mail!" DONNA ALVIS-BANKS

LENGTH: Short :   34 lines