Helping Keep New Year Roads Just A Little Safer
Shelly Dilly (left) talks with local bar staff on New Years Eve.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Keeping Safe, that’s the goal of one Oskaloosa business owner and her sponsors.
Shelly Dilly owns and runs Closing Time Cabs, and with the help from some local businesses and individuals, she was able to offer free rides to local residents this past New Year’s Eve.
Dilly started handing out those free rides around 8pm, with a pickup on Oskaloosa’s west side. The couple that utilized Dilly’s cab. “I think it’s great” was one of the passengers response to Dilly’s cab service. “The ride to the bar and back will save you a lot of money in fines,” was another response to utilizing the cab service, and somebody’s life if you’re not careful.
As time allowed, Dilly stopped at each bar, handing out cards and making sure owners and bartenders were aware of the service provided during the evening.
“I’ve gotten to know a lot more people in Osky,” Dilly says about one of the positive things that has come out of running her cab service. “I’ve lived here 7 years and I don’t think I knew that many people until I started this, and there’s a lot of great people here in town.”
There have been a few scary situations as well. She remembers giving a ride to a very intoxicated male that became belligerent with her, but most of the time Dilly says they are “happy drunks.” “Being in town, the cops are around quite a bit. I like it, about every turn I see one and that means they see me and I feel safe.”
Dilly is a former cab driver in Sioux City, and has been in business in Oskaloosa for the past 6 months, “but I’ve been really growing lately” she says. Dilly says that her friends and family supported her interest in starting the service, “there is no transportation in this town, there needs to be transportation.”
“That’s how it came about. There was no way to get home from the bar, there was no way for little ol’ ladies to get to the store if their families weren’t available,” Dilly said of her frustration looking at the lack of transportation options in the community. She’s now grateful for the support her friends and family gave her, “because they gave me the confidence to do this.”
Dilly has plans for her business, but for now she’s keeping it simple and just putting what it makes back into building the business further. One day, she hopes to add additional cars, but for now, when you call Closing Time, chances are you’re going to get Shelly behind the wheel.
Four local businesses helped Dilly provide those free rides. Beyond Borders, Stix Bar N Grill, CB Liquor and Oskaloosa News each contributed funds to help offset Dilly’s costs. One other person helped sponsor rides for the VFW party on Monday. For more information on Closing Time Cabs you can visit them on Facebook, or call 641.676.4461.
