Huron Expositor, 2005-07-13, Page 7News
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 13, 2005 - 7
Delivery driver still on the road after 63 years of driving experience
By Jason Middleton
Expositor Staff
Jim Cronin is still truckin'
after 63 years of driving and
the delivery truck driver from
Mitchell doesn't plan on
slowing down anytime soon.
At the age of 77, Cronin, a
former transport truck driver,
is now a delivery truck driver
with Radar Auto Parts and
says he still loves driving.
"I just like driving to pass
the time now," Cronin, whose
nickname is Jim -Bo, said. "It
saves staying home and I
won't have to work at home."
Cronin's former boss,
Bruce Bennett, president of
Intermodal and Heritage
FreightIines in Dublin, said
that Cronin is a good driver
because of his years of
experience.
"He loved driving, period,"
Bennett said. "His
enthusiasm for it was always
evident."
At the age of 70 Cronin had
to step down from being a
transport truck driver
because of government and -
insurance regulations
imposed on older drivers.
•
Jason Middleton photo
Jim Cronin, of Mitchell, has been delivery driving for 63 years. The former transport
truck driver is now working as a delivery driver for an auto parts store in Mitchell.
Cronin said that he missed "You've gotta slow down Cronin explained that he
the driving at first, but now sometime," he said with a took his first load to Toronto
enjoys his new job. chuckle. when he was just 15 -years -
Lots of activities for children
to do in Seaforth this summer
By Ben Forrest
Expositor Staff
Although a summer spent
parked in front of a television
set, mashing buttons on an
Xbox or lazing about in the
sun may appeal to kids in the
area, their parents may not
approve.
Thankfully, there are
number of other available
activities. The Expositor here
presents a partial list:
• Vacation Bible schools
are being held at Northside
United Church from July 25-
29 and Bethel Bible Church
from August 22-26.
Northside's program will run
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily
and is open to kids aged four
to 12. Crafts, skits, music,
games, snacks and Bible
stories will be among the
activities offered, and there is
no cost. This year's theme is
"Kids Go Wild," which
Susan Campbell, one of the
organizers, says is "a safari
theme." Interested parties are
asked to register by July 15.
Bethel's VBS is aimed at
kids in Kindergarten to Grade
6, but is open to kids in
Grades 7 and 8 also. As with
Northside's program, older
kids are welcome to help out
if they wish, and there is no
cost. Pre -registration is
possible but not necessary,
and kids don't have to
commit to coming out the
whole week.
Its hours are 9 a.m. to 12
p.m. also, and the theme is
"Construction Zone" — aimed
at building character and
becoming more Christ -like.
Don'tyou just lore it when you find those
fabulous little shops by mistake? That's
what The Clothing Zone is all about But
don't let the name fool yea. All donated
pace, aA one of a kind from 1920's wed-
ding down so a i01 Gibson Gritse. I could
to on and on but now its your turn to come
mid risit and I promise you, the trip will be
worth your while.
The Clothing Zone
Open 7 days a week
369.81h Street East,
Owen Sound or call 372-9930
McTaggart
Wettlaufer
INSURANCE BROKERS INC
•AUTO HOME FARM
TRAVEL COMMERCIAL
• LIFE INSURANCE
.BROKERS
Paul Wettlaufer
Amy Siemon
Spzanne Zehr
Bill Siemon
Kelt Hutchisop
68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150
Mitchell 1-800-561-0183
• Seaforth Co -Operative
Children's Centre offers a
great deal this summer for
kids of many ages. The
centre offers daily programs
for toddlers (18 months to
two years), pre -school -aged
kids (2)/2-6 years old) and
school -aged kids (6-12),
packed with fun.
The centre also has a
number of day trips planned,
which can be attended by
those not enrolled in the
program. Planned
destinations include
Storybook Gardens, a dairy
farm, a veterinarian's clinic,
New Orlean's Pizza, and
more.
Those not wishing to enroll
in the full program but
wanting to come on various
trips should call ahead to
reserve a spot. They will be
billed only for the cost of the
trip.
• Vanastra Recreation
Centre (VRC) also offers a
daily Summer Day Camp,
which features outside
games, sports -related and
non -sports -related activities
and crafts. Each week has a
theme, and a bus trip is
organized for each week.
Sportsworld and London
Children's Museum are
among the places kids will
journey to.
The VRC offers swimming
lessons and public swims
every Monday to Friday from
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Seaforth Lions Pool also
offers swimming lessons, and
public swims at various times
during the day. It also offers a
swim team that practices
Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays and competes in four
swim meets over the course
of the summer. Anyone who
can swim one length of the
pool can join. The cost is
$40.
• Finally, tennis lessons
being held at the courts at
Seaforth Public School have
already begun, but it is still
possible to sign up. Please
call Henry Binnendyk at 522-
0416 if interested.
old and never got a drivers
license until he was 26, and
the only reason he got it then
was because a police officer
drove him to town hall to
purchase one for $4.
Cronin explained that
during his career he has
driven "all makes of trucks"
including Chevrolet and
International, but explained
that his favourite vehicle to
drive was a GM pickup.
Bennett said that Cronin is
an expert when it comes to
equipment and the history of
the trucking industry.
"He's seen a lot of changes
in the trucks, the technology
and the size of the
equipment," Bennett said.
"He's kind of like a walking
encyclopedia history book
for trucking."
Cronin said the trend that is
the worst to him is that there
are too many trucks on the
road now because trains are
taking a backseat to transport
trucks.
"It makes a lot of traffic,"
he said.
In his many years of
driving, Cronin explained
that he has seen some nasty
weather on the roads.
He said that he his been in
"storms to no end that you
couldn't see past the hood."
After some winters storms,
Cronin said that he could
walk over the telegraphs that'
used to be in place.
Cronin's sons have all had a
chance to follow in their
dad's footsteps. His sons
Larry, Terry Barry, Don and
Bob (who passed away a year
ago) have all tried their
chance at being a trucker at
one point.
"They were all into it,"
Cronin said, adding that he
didn't want his sons in the
industry because it was too
wild and rough. "I told them
all not to be."
Even Cronin's daughter
Colleen is involved in the
transportation industry
because her husband is a
truck driver.
For the past five years,
Cronin has been working at
the Radar Auto Parts in
Mitchell as delivery driver
and joked that he will keep
working at Radar until they
fire him.
TD Canada Trust
is proud to support
the Children's Miracle
Network.
For a healthy community,
working together with:
• Tucker's Meat Shop
• Frank Kling Ltd.
• Wayne & Harold
Smith Construction
• Ralph Smith
TD Canada Trust is
• Pineridge Barbeque
Company
• Seaforth Foodmarket
• The Municipality
of Huron East
• Archie's Service
Centre
It's just part of our commitment to making
our communities better.
elCanada Trust
/
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