CARLYLE - Dan Peebles and Shirley McCarron are well-known area residents who have driven the Carlyle transit van since 2016.
In late 2021, the Town of Carlyle purchased a new Promaster Move Mobility Dodge Van. McCarron’s aunt, the then-106-year-old Elsie Cameron, was one of its first riders.
The transit van is available to all senior and disabled citizens of the Town of Carlyle and operates Mondays, Thursday and Fridays. The cost of the service is $2, and McCarron indicated that it is woefully under-utilized.
“We average around five riders a day but have room for more,” she said. “The price is definitely reasonable and there are a lot of seniors in our town that could be using this super service.”
Requests are to be made by contacting the town office at 306-453-2363.
The Town of Carlyle recently recognized Peebles and McCarron for their years of exceptional service. Of course, the couple was asked when they plan to retire. Without hesitating, and with a straight face, McCarron replied, “When the riders are younger than me.”
This couple has been together since the early 1990s and lived on Newcombe Street in Manor for decades. For a few years, they operated D & S Convenience out of the Manor Auto Sales building.
In the spring of 2019, Peebles suffered a series of four debilitating strokes in a very short period of time. He couldn’t talk or walk, and during his time in hospital, was under code blue cardiac arrest. Together with undergoing major back surgery in September 2022, the 79-year-old is now considered a medical marvel and is approaching a complete recovery.
After the 2019 medical issues, Peebles and McCarron decided to move to Carlyle and now reside in Heritage Court across from the Sports Arena. They still rent out their home in Manor but upon moving had to auction off their prize possessions.
Both Peebles and McCarron have children from previous relationships. They include Darcy Peebles, Colette Pierson, Jacqui Trippel, Jodi Onufreychuk and several grandchildren. McCarron enjoys the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle, sewing and her family. Peebles regularly has coffee at the Heritage Court community kitchen and watches as much hockey as he can. The proximity of the skating rink is a bonus.
Incidentally, McCarron was one of the Carlyle Cougars’ first Fan of the Year Award recipients back in the early 1990s.
