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  • 24
    Jun
    2011
    2:00pm, EDT

    Drugs, family and absence along the Ohio River

    For the Soul of Athens multimedia project, students from Ohio University look at how the American Dream is evolving in the small towns of southeast Ohio. 

    Student Brad Vest told this story:

    "In and out of incarceration, Travis Simmons, 28, and his family deal with an emotional, social, and physical landscape that constantly changes. Their dreams hinge on his ability to stay away from drugs and support his family."

    Brad Vest

    The extended Simmons family gathers outside of Shelia Simmons camper. Travis finds it easier to stay away from old influences while living alongside his mother Shelia. "She keeps an eye on me." Travis said. "Whether I like it or not she's always there making sure that I don't screw this up."

    Brad Vest

    Travis Simmons watches over his two young daughters, Patience and Journey, as they play outside of his one room camper. "I sat in that room for 28 days," Travis said about the county jail cell. "I felt, God damn, this [camper's] a mansion."

    Brad Vest

    Travis adjusts his home confinement ankle bracelet as his daughter Patience, left, sleeps, and Journey nurses her last bottle of formula before bed. After completing his original sentence for conspiracy to commit grand larceny, Simmons was sent back to jail for breaking parole on multiple drug violations.

    Brad Vest

    Short, an old friend of Travis, snorts a line of Suboxone as Travis attempts to block Patience's view of the drug. Suboxone is a prescription drug used to help treat opiate addiction; however, it is also abused to get high. Travis has struggled to break off friendships with old friends. Most of them are recovering addicts or still using.

    Brad Vest

    Shelia Simmons confronts her son, Travis, after he was released on bond. Travis' grandfather put his home's mortgage up for the bail money required to prevent Travis from returning to jail. "This is the last @!$%#ing time," Shelia said. "I'm not coming back here if you get in trouble, no more."

    "This is a story about drugs, family and absence along a bend in the river. Travis Simmons is attempting to move past his addiction, and despite prison, parole, parents, and his devotion to his daughters, he cannot stay out of trouble. Now his mother, Shelia, helps care for his daughters, Patience and Journey, and worries for their future, wondering when her son will come home, and if he will screw up again."

    See the full story here.

    3 comments

    and probably receive welfare check, with their coke sniffing.

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    Explore related topics: ohio, united-states, university-of-ohio, soul-of-athens
  • 24
    Jun
    2011
    2:00pm, EDT

    Ohio family of five lives in a school bus

    For the Soul of Athens multimedia project, students from Ohio University look at how the American Dream is evolving in the small towns of southeast Ohio. Meg Roussos focused on a family of five living in a school bus on 20 acres of land, producing an essay titled "The Refuge." See the full story here. 

    Meg Roussos

    Forest, Eli and Simon unload firewood as the fall sun sets through the trees, and their goats surround the boys. "We are trying to load up on firewood before winter comes around," Simon says.

    Meg Roussos

    Forest works on some homework and Eli sits on the couch, while Smiles types in some new song lyrics he wrote into their laptop, and Space cuddles with Simon. "This bus really makes us a close family, not just because we have to be around each other all the time, but because we want to be around each other" Smile said.

    Describing the lifestyle in the tent, Roussos writes:
    The school bus is small for five people. Shelves are stacked to the ceiling, filled with clothes and food. Headlamps hang from a bungee cord. There are touches of home, like a bookcase Smiles built. They improvise solutions to simple problems that do not exist in traditional houses.The kids warm bricks on the wood-burning stove and place them at their feet to keep warm during winter. Eli pulls out a rollaway bed every night, and Forest sleeps on the couch. There is no running water. They compost their waste. They have to start a generator in order to charge their cell phones. With only the small stove in the bus, it often gets cold during the long Appalachian winters. Smiles often gets up in the middle of the night to refuel the fire.

    Meg Roussos

    Simon steps through the kitchen, as Space's homemade apple pies wait to be baked in the oven. "It is such blessing to have this oven in here, I am able to bake a lot of homemade things" Space said.

     

     

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  • 24
    Jun
    2011
    2:00pm, EDT

    Life of a man confined to a wheelchair in Athens, Ohio

    For the Soul of Athens multimedia project, students from Ohio University look at how the American Dream is evolving in the small towns of southeast Ohio. 

    Anita Vizireanu photographed Noah Trembly, a 33-year-old man with cerebral palsy, who is struggling to live independently while confined to a wheelchair, and is able to speak only through a communication board. See the full story here.

    Anita Vizireanu

    Noah Trembly, 33, was born with cerebral palsy. He moves with the help of an automatic wheelchair and is able to speak only through his communication board using a laser guided silver dot on his forehead to type words.

    Anita Vizireanu

    Noah decided to dress in drag for Halloween with the help of his aides and friends. He borrowed the dress and wig from a close friend, who used to work as a stripper.

    Anita Vizireanu

    Noah Trembly and Thea Erwin, 19, a student at Ohio University, talked for a few hours before the girl was picked up from the bar by her boyfriend. Noah goes out drinking an average of four nights a week.

    Anita Vizireanu

    Todd Vanhorn helps Noah drink a beer in Noah's home. Todd has been Noah's night aide for more than two years and said that he thinks of Noah as his brother. Todd has suffered from insomnia since he was a child. Noah also suffers from insomnia, because he can not burn out his energy during the day. Drinking helps him sleep.

    Anita Vizireanu

    Mike and Ann Trembly welcome Noah and his sister, Chandra, home for Easter. Even though the whole family is atheist, Noah and Chandra go home for every family and religious holiday. "It's our mom's excuse to have us all at home," Chandra said.

     

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