Published in the Bennington Banner on August 18, 2007, part of Matt Tuthill’s first-person football series, “I, of the Storm” A PROFESSIONAL IN OUR MIDST By the time coach Laumann picks this up, it’s going to be too late. He’s going to see the picture of Dennis Mailhot taking a pull on a cigarette and …
John Cross Profile – I, of the Storm
THE CROSS THAT BEARS THE STORM Published in the Bennington Banner on July 14, 2007, part of Matt Tuthill’s first-person football series, “I, of the Storm” I hate John Cross. Rudy Rudiger’s teammates hated him, too, and with good reason. Certain players, like Rudy and Cross, don’t know how to shut it off, or even …
Army Recruiting Feature
Published in the Bennington Banner on June 19, 2006 THE PURSUIT TO RECRUIT There was always an excuse. The days were long. He was too tired. He never had the time. They were, of course, good excuses. Bennington Army Recruiter Sgt. Ron Davis nearly sweat himself dry in the summer of 1995, slaving over the …
Autism Feature
Published in the Bennington Banner on August 17, 2006 LOCALS TACKLE AUTISM TOGETHER BENNINGTON — Her daughter was 3 years old and had yet to say a single word. Not even some small semblance of a word. No cooing, no yelling, no screaming. Every day she woke to an eerily silent 3-year-old girl, who simply …
Living strong after cancer
SHAFTSBURY — He had heard the expression before but never experienced it for himself. Larry Johnson felt the walls closing in around him. During a routine prostate exam in September 2002, Larry’s doctor discovered a growth and told him three dreadful words: “You have cancer.” Larry was terrified. The 62-year-old Bond Auto Parts manager and …
Dying to get some sleep
Published in the Bennington Banner on May 8, 2006 DYING TO GET SOME SLEEP BENNINGTON — Bob Burgess went 15 years before ever saying anything to his doctor. Burgess, a nurse on staff at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center for the last 22 years, was constantly fatigued, fell asleep without warning and snored like a beast. …
Professor Carlson Retires
Published in The Springfield Student in the spring of 2003 PROFESSOR CARLSON RETIRES The self-described “doddering old professor” slid about in a pair of sandals, unnoticed in the front of the classroom. The clamor of students socializing with one another rose high above Dr. David Carlson, English Professor since 1967, speaking to his assistant who …
Here’s to You, Mr. Robinson
Published in The Springfield Student in the fall of 2002 HERE’S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON A tall, dark figure stood in a circle of his teammates dressed in full gear before football practice. His head was bowed. His arms were crossed. Steamy breath rose from his unseen mouth into the cold November night. As he …
Hazing Rituals Pervade Campus Life
Published in The Springfield Student in the fall of 2002 HAZING RITUALS PERVADE CAMPUS LIFE It’s all fun and games until someone swallows a goldfish… and chases it with a shot of tequila – then jogs naked through campus while singing “I’m a little teacup.” As funny as it sounds, this is a common scene …