A camp survivor repays a debt

Washington The anonymous donor turned up at a U.S. diplomatic office and presented an envelope with 1,000 euros, about $1,200, for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

It was a way of repaying a debt to the United States for being liberated by American soldiers from a concentration camp and treated more than 60 years ago, Sean McCormack, a State Department spokesman, said Wednesday in relating the incident.

The donor was 90 years old, but that is all McCormack would say by way of identification, although it was learned later the donor was a woman. “This is a person who is not seeking any publicity for this act – which in the time we live makes it even more extraordinary,” he said.

Postal Service making some of its rounds

Washington The post office has delivered some 15,000 Social Security checks at collection points in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina, officials said Wednesday.

But the Postal Service is still trying to locate 2,000 of its workers – about one-third of its employees in the region affected by the hurricane.

In the affected region, 188 post offices have returned to full service, 189 are providing limited service and 120 are still closed.

Postmaster General John Potter said about 720,000 delivery points in Louisiana, mostly in New Orleans and the surrounding area, remain without service, as do about 100,000 delivery locations in Mississippi.

More than 50,000 people who have been evacuated from their homes have filed change-of-address forms so their mail can be forwarded, and the post office is encouraging more people to do so. Changes can be filed at any local post office, by phone at (800) 275-8777 or online at www.usps.com.

Grain is moving again on lower Mississippi

Washington The hurricane-ravaged lower Mississippi River is open to two-way traffic for grain shipments from the Gulf Coast, and 63 percent of grain elevator capacity has been restored, the government said Wednesday.

“Vessels are moving on the river. Vessels are being loaded today, literally as we speak,” said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

But shipments remain restricted. River navigation is limited to the daytime because Hurricane Katrina knocked out lights used at night.